
PRKSFNTi:!) I!Y 



SERMONS, 



BY 



CHARLES PETER LATARD, 

D.D. F.R.S. F.AoSo 
LATE DEAN OF BRISTOL. 



LONDON: 

PRINTED FOR F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL's CHURCH^ 
yard; J. ROBSON, NEW BOND STREET; T. PAYNE, CASTLE 

street; cadell and davies, strand; and j. hatchabDj 

PICCADILLY; 

By Bye and Law, St. John's Square, Clerkenwell-. 



1804 



am 

B sram S 




ADVERTISEMENT. 



The Editor of the following Dif- 
courfes, is defirous of apprizing the Pub« 
lie, that they have been fele6led from a 
confiderable number of Sermons, which 
were preached by the late Dean of 
Bristol, in the ordinary difcharge af 
his duty, and which do not appear to 
have been defigned by the Author for 
publication. * Many refpeftable friends, 
who were acquainted with the influence 
of his preaching, were anxious that the 

* The Sermon preached at the Magdalen excepted, 
Y/hich had before been printed by particular requell. 



exertion 



Iv Adverti/ement, 

exertion of his talents fhould continue to 
operate with permanent effect, trufting 
that the arguments which had been 
fuccefsful in the pulpit, might prove effi- 
cacious in the clofet. 

The feleftion which has been made 
under the fanftion of their judgment, it 
is hoped will be found in fome degree de- 
ferving of attention, and calculated to 
promote the advancement of the great 
caufe of religion, which the author ever 
ftrenuoufly endeavoured to fupport. 

It was thought right, that the difcourfes 
fhould appear in the ftate in which they 
were left by their author, left the native 
limplicity of the compofitions fliould be 
injured. The editor who confiders it the 
beft tribute of duty to the memory of a 

revered 



Advertifement, v 

revered parent, to endeavour to preferve 
and difFufe the principles, which influenced 
his hfe, and animated his produftions, is 
deceived at leaft, if the foundnefs of the 
doftrines, and the importance of the in- 
ftru6lions, which the difcourfes contain, 
will not apologize for any defefts which a 
pofthumous work may betray, from a want 
of a final revife by their author. 



June^ 
1804, ' 



B. V. LA YARD. 



LIST 



OF 



SUBSCRIBERS. 



The Queen. 

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, 

Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales. 

His Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence. 

His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent. 

Her Royal Highness Princess Augusta. 

Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeths 

Her Royal Highness Princess Mary. 

Her Royal Highness Princess Sophia. 

Her Royal Highness Princess Amelia. 

Her Royal Highness the Dutchess of Gloucester. 

Her Royal Highness Princess Sophia of Gloucester. 



vm 



List of Subscribert 



A. 

Duke of Ancaster^ royal paper, 10 copies. 
Dutchess of Ancaster^ r. p. 10 copies. 
Lord Bishop of St. Asaph, r. p. 10 copies. 
Lord Alvanley, r. p. 
Lady Arden. 

Lady Harriet Ashburnham, r. p. 
Sir W. A'Court, Bart. r. p. 

Hon. and Rev. Aston, r. p. 

Robert Abraham, Esq. r. p. 

Robert Allen, Esq. r. p. 

Miss Aleyn, r. p. 

Mr. Allfree, r. p. 

Rev. E. M. Allfree, r. p. 

Mrs. Anstrie, r. p. 

Mrs. E. Armstrong. 

Rev. J. Ashburnham, r. p. 

Lieut. Col. Andrews, r. p. 

Rev. William Antrobus, r. p. 

J. P. Anderdon, Esq. r. p. 3 copies. 

Mrs. Anderdon, r. p. 2 copies. 

John Accodrey, Esq. r. p. 

Rev. Samuel Ayscough, r. p. 

Charles Aylett, Esq. r. p. 

Rev. Allen. 

V/. Adair, Esq. r. p. 

Rev. Joseph Adamthwaite, r. p. 

B. 

Dutchess of Buccleugh^ r. p. 



List of Subscribers. ix 

Earl of Buckinghamiliire, r. p. 

Countess of Buckinghamshire, r. p. 

Countess Dowager of Buckinghamshire, r. p. 

Countess Dowager of Balcarras» 

Dowager Lady Boyd, 2 copies. 

Lord Bilhop of Bangor, r. p. 

Lord Brownlow, r. p. 10 copies. 

Lord Binning. 

Lady Binning. 

Lady Baird. 

Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. r. p. 
Hon B. Bouverie, r. p. 

Hon. Burrell, r. p. 5 copies. 

Hon. Miss Burton. 

Dean and Chapter of Briftol, r. p. 5 copies. 
Dean of Bangor, r. p. 
General Bertie, r. p. 
Admiral Buckner, r, p. 

Rev. Barker, r. p. 

Mrs. Robert Baker, r. p. 

Rev. Barclay. 

Miss Banister, r. p. 

Rev.T. W. Barlow^, r. p. 5 copies. 

Rev. William Bartlet, r. p. 

Mrs. Bassett, r. p. 

Robert Beadon, Esq. r. p. 

Rev. Edwards Beadon, 3 copies. 

Rev. J. W. Beadon, 3 copies. 

Rev. Fred. Beadon. 

Mrs. E, Baylis. 

William Barlow, Esq. r.p. 

Rev. Henry Baker, r. p. 

George Baker, Esq. r. p. 

J. T. Batt^ Esq. r. p. 



X List of Subscribers. 

Mrs. Batt^ r. p. 

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Mrs. Bartlet. 

Miss A. M. Bentley. 

Rev. Richard Bere, r. p. 

Rev. Brian Beauchamp, r. p. 

Mrs. Bertie^ r. p. 

Calverley Bewicke^ Esq. r. p. 

Miss Eliza Bentley. 

Miss A. Bentley. 

Rev. Richard Bentley^ r. p. 

Rev. Bent. 

James Bindley^, Esq. r. p. 

Rev. Charles Birch. 

Mrs. Bridget Beecher, r. p. 

Miss Blackburrow_, r. p. £ copies. 

Miss A. Blackburrow. 

Miss Blackman^ r, p. 

R. B. Bluett, Esq. r. p. 

George Lane Blount, Esq. r. p. 5 copies. 

Rev. Reginald Bligh, r. p. 

Rev. R. Bligh, r. p. 

Rev. Bedford. 

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Mr. George Blackburn, r. p. 
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Mrs. John Blackburn, r.p. 
Miss Blackburn, r. p. 
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Richard Brent, Esq. r. p. 

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Miss Bright, r. p. 

Henry Bromley, Esq. r. p. 

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Mr. Bugden, r. p. 

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Miss Burt, r. p. 

J. BuUer, Esq. r. p. 

Rev. Samuel Butler, r. p. 

Edward Burton, Esq. r. p. 

Mr.W.LeB r.p. 

Rev. — — Blair, r. p. 

Miss L. A. Byam. 

Rev. John Bringhurst^ r. p. 

Capt. Birch. 

Mrs. Bawtreci 

Rev. R.Budd^ cp^ 



xii List of Subscribers^ 

Rev. Edward Bowerbank^ r. p. 

Bryan Broughton,, Esq. r. p. 2 copies. 

Messrs Biirdon,, 2 copies. 

Mr. Biirdon^ r. p. 2 copies. 

Rev. Charles Batliurst,, r. p. 

Rev. Dr. Barton^ r. p. 

Miss Burgess^ r. p. 

Miss E. Burgess, r. p. 

Mayor of Bristol,, r. p. 10 copies. 

Mrs. Ann Bradley. 

Rev. Baugh. 

Mr. H. Beale, r. p. 

Miss Emma Benyon, r. p. 

Miss Frances Benyon, r. p. 

Rev. Dr. Bell, r. p. 

Thomas Birch, Esq. r. p. 

Mrs. Birch, r. p. 

Mrs. Bosquet, r. p. 

Mr. Bewick, r. p. 

Mr. Budgen, r. p. 

Mrs. Belson, r. p. 

Capt. Belson, r. p. 

Rev. Baxley. 

Mrs. Ball. 

Mrs. BiUis. 

Dr. Charles Bumey. 

Rev. John Brome. 

Mrs. Bagg. 

c. 

His Grace the Archbp. of Canterbury^ r. p. 10 copies. 
Earl of Caernarvon^ r. p. 



List of Subscribers. 

Countess of Caernarvon^ r. p. 
Countess of Chatliam^, r. p. 
Viscount Clifden^ r. p, 5 copies. 
Viscount Carleton_, r. p. 
Earl of Clarendon^ r. p. 
Lord Bishop of Chichester^ r. p. 5 copies. 
Lord Bifhop of Chester,, r. p. 10 copies. 
Lady Conyngham^ r. p. 
Sir Thomas Clarges^ Bart. r. p. 
Sir Corbet Corbet^ Bart. r. p. 
Lady Albina Cumberland, r. p. 
Sir Alured Clarke, r. p. 
Sir Stephen Cottrell, r. p. 
Lady Cottrell, r. p. 
Dean of Canterbury, r. p. 
Dean of Chichester, r. p. 5 copies. 
Dean of Christ Church, r. p. 5 copies. 
Hon. Edward Clive, r. p. 
Hon. Richard Cust. 
Michael Caftle, Esq. r. p. 5 copies. 
Thomas Castle, Esq. r. p. 5 copies, 
Robert Caftle, Jun. Esq. r. p. 
Michael Cattle, Jun. Esq. r. p. 
Rev. Thomas Catton. 
Rev. G. O. Cambridge. 
Mrs. Caldecot, 2 copies. 
Rev. William Camplin, r. p. - 
Rev. James Camplin, r. p. 
Archdeacon of Canterbury, r. p. 
Rev. Archdeacon Carver^, r. p. 10 copies- 
Mr. Charles, r. p. 
Rev. George Champagne, r. p. 
Rev. William Chafy, r. p. 
Mrs, Chappie, r. p. 



xiv List of Subscribers. 

Miss Chappie, r. p. 

William Clarges, Esq. r. p. 

Mrs. Clarke, r. p. 

Kev. John Cleaver, r. p. 

Rev. James Jarvis Cleaver, r. p. 

Rev. Hugh Cholmondeley, r. p. 

William Cave, Esq. r. p. 

Rev. William Calcott. 

George Clarke, Esq. r. p. 

Richard Clark, Esq. r. p. 

R. B. Charlett, Esq. r. p. 

John Clarkson, Esq. r. p. 

Rev. R. Carveth. 

Archibald Campbell, Esq. 

Rev. William Callow. 

George Calvert, Esq. 

Rev. John Churchill, Eggesford, r. p. 

Rev. John Churchill, near Exeter. 

William Cludde, Esq. r. p. 

Miss Clarke, r. p. 

Capt. Chivers, r. p. 

Mr. Thomas Cocks, r. p. 

Rev. Dr. Collinson, r. p. 2 copies. 

Mrs. Colmer, r. p*. 

Mr. Cook, r. p. 

Rev. Croke, r. p. 

Rev. Dr. Coombe, r. p. 

Rev. Dr. Cole, r. p. 4 copies. 

Mrs. Cotton, r. p. 

John Coulson, Esq. r. p. 

Mrs. Counsell, r. p. 

Rev. John Crauford. 

Rev. Dr. Croft, r. p^ 

Rev. — Crofts. 

Rev. George Grossman, p. 



List of Subscribers, 

Kev. S. Crowther, r. p. 
James Gumming, Esq. r. p. 
Miss Cox/ r. p. 
Rev. Thomas Cotton. 
Rev. N. A. A. Colvile. 
Samuel Collett^ Esq. r. p. 
Mrs. H. Cowper, 2 copies. 
Rev. J. Cooke. 
Rev. William Coxe, r. p. 
Mrs. Congreve, Iscoyd Park. 
Miss Congreve. 

Mrs. Congreve, Aldermaston-House. 

Mrs. Corbet, r. p. 

Miss Corbet, r. p. 

Miss S. Corbet, r. p. 

Rev. Dr. Coulthurst, r, p, 

Mrs. Halhet Craigie 

Mr. Collins. 

Miss S. Cocker. 

Mrs. Chambers, r. p« 

Mrs. Clerke, r. p. 

Mrs. Cooper. 

Calvert Clarke, Esq. r. p. 

John Early Cook, Esq. r. p. 

Rev. John Crofts, £ copies. 

Mrs. Calvert, r. p. 

Mr, Cunningham, 2 copies, 

Mrs. P. Cholmeley, r. p. 

Miss C. Cholmeley, r. p. 

Rev. Dr. Crawford, r. p. 2 copies. 

Rev. George Champagne, r. p. 5 copies. 

Rev. Thomas Carver, r. p. 5 copies, 

Rev. — ^ — • Chauvel, 4 copies. 

Rev. Andrew Cheap, 

Rev, Jacob Costabridge^ r* p» 



List of Subscribers. 



D. 

His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin, r. p 
Earl of Dartmouth, r. p. 
Countess of Dartmouth, r. p. 
Countess Dowager of Dartmouth. 
Countess of Dalkeith. 

Viscount Dudley and Ward, r. p. 5 copies 
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Lord Bishop of Durham, r. p. 6 copies. 
Lord Dynevor, r, p. 
Lady Dynevor, r. p. 
Lady Douglas. 

Lady Downshire, r. p. 5 copies. 

Lady Juliana Dawkins, r. p. 

Dean of Dromore, r. p. 

Sir TLomas Dyer, r. p. 2 copies. 

Miss Dyer, r. p. 2 copies. 

M. Dunsford, Esq. r. p. 

Henry Davis, Esq. r. p. 

Rev. J. T. Davison. 

Mrs. Dear, r. p. 4 copies. 

Mrs. Day, r. p. 

Edward Desbrow, Esq. r. p. 

Mr. N. Dearling. 

Edwin Dawes, Esq. r. p. 

Dr. Dargent, r. p. 

Rev. Charles Digby, r. p. 

Mrs. Dinham, 12 copies. 

Miss Dinham, r. p. 

Richard Dinne, Esq. r. p. 

Rev. Dodd. 



List of Subscribers, 

Mrs. Doyley^ r. p. 
John Drewe^ Esq. 

Andrew Drummond^ Esq. r. p. 2 copies. 

William Durant, Esq. r. p. 

Rev. Dr. Du Val^ r. p. 10 copies. 

Mrs. Du Val, r. p. 3 copies. 

Miss Duer^ r. p. 

Rev. Mount Davis^ r. p. 

Mrs. Dingle. 

Rev. Jonas Denis. 

Rev. Douglas^ r. p^ 

Miss Dutton, 3 copies. 

Mr. Douglas^ r. p. 

Miss Douglas,, r. p. 

Miss Dundas. 

Mrs. Darley^ r. p. 

M. Dunsford^ Esq. r. p. 

Rev. John Dampier, r. p. 

Rev. J. R. Deverell^ r. p. 2 copies 

John Drummond^ Esq. r. p. 

Mr. A. Drummond, r. p. 

Rev. John Deedes^ r. p. 

Rev. Dutens^ r. p. 

Rev. John Dampier^ r. p. 
Lieut. Col. Desbrowe, r. pc 
Charles Desvoux, Esq. r. p^ 
Rev. Montague Davis^ r. p« 
William Danby^ Esq. 
Rev. Dr. Dodsworth^ r. p. 



Marquis of Exeter^ r. p. 5 copies* 



xviii List of Suhscrihers, 

Marchioness of Exeter_, r. p. 5 copies- 
Lord Bifhop of Ely, r. p. 3 copies. 
Lord Bifliop of Exeter. 
Rt. Hon. Lady Christian Erskine^ r. p. 
Lady Louisa Erskine, r. p. 
Sir A. Edmonstone^ Bart. 
Sir James Earle^ r. p. 
Dean of Ely, r. p. 5 copied- 
Charles Edmonstone, Esq, 
Rev. Dr. Eveleigh, r. p. 
Rev. John Edmunds. 
Rev. John Edwards, r. p. 
Rev. Edward Eilis^ r. p. 
Rev. James Eyre. 
Cornet Elton. 
David Erskine, Esq. 
Miss Erskine. 
Mrs. Evans, r. p. 
Thomas Eyton, Esq. r. p. 
Rev. Edward Enibry, r. p- 
Rev. Dr. Evans, r. p. 
Rev. A. B. Evans. 
Rev. Dr. Eyre, r. p. 
William Eyre, Esq. r. p. 
Thomas Estcourt, Esq. r. p- 
Rev. W. England, 
Rev. George Edmonstone, 



F. 

Rt. Hon. Lady Fortescue, r. p. 

Rt. Hon. Lady Fermanagh. 

Rt. Hon. Matthew Fortescue^ r. p. 



List of Subscribers, 

Sir Richard Ford. 

Sir Samuel Fludyer, r. p. 2 copies. 

Lady Fliidyer, r. p. 2 copies. 

Sir William Forbes, 2 copies. 

Miss Forbes, 2 copies. 

Rev. Edmund Ferrers, r. p, 10 copies. 

Rev. Fletcher, r. p. 

Mr. Thomas Farrant. 
M. Forbes, Esq. r. p. 
Rev. Hugh Eraser, r. p. 
William Fox, Esq. r. p. 
Miss L. Freeman. 
Rev. Edward Forster, r. p. 

Rev. Francis, r. p. 

Mrs. Peter Fry, r. p. 
Captain Fisher, r. p. 
Mr. John Fisher, r. p. 
Mrs. Fairfax. 
Rev. Dr. Fry, r. p. 
Mrs. M. A. Foreiler, r. p. 
William Flower, Esq. r. p. 
Rev. John Foley, r. p. 

Rev. Foley, Holt. 

Thomas Finch, Esq. r. p» 

Mr. Froft. ♦ 

Mr. Finch. 

A Friend, r. p. 

Mrs. Isabella Fielding, r. p, 

Thomas Ferrers, Esq. r. p. 

Rev. H. Finch. 

Lord Gwydir, r, p. 10 copies, 
a 2 



XX List of Subscribers, 

Rt. Hon. Lady Garlics^ r. p. 2 copies. 
Lady Guise. 

Rev. Sir Adam Gordon^, r. p. 5 copies. 

Dean of Gloucester^ r. p. 

Sir Robert Graham^ r. p. 

Hon. Sir Nash Grose. 

Mrs. Grose, 

Rev. Dr. Gaskin^ r. p. 

Rev. Dr. Gray^ r. p. 

Thomas Gordon^ Esq. r. p. 

James Gill^ Esq. r. p. 

Charles Gilbert,, Esq, r. p^ 

Mrs. Giliing, r. p. 

Mrs. Goodenough, r. p. 

Mrs. Gosling, r. p. 

Rev. Robert Gould^ r. p. 

Miss M. Gordon, r. p. 

Miss Anna Maria Gresley, r. p. 

Mrs. Gould, r. p. 

Rev. — Granville, r. p. 

Gloucester Reading Society. 

Mrs. Greenway. 

Rev. George Gordon, r. p. 

Mrs. Gregory. 

Rev. Dr. Goodinge, r. p. 

T.G r.p. 

Richard Gough, Esq. r. p 
Rev. Samuel Girle, r. p. 
Mrs. Gell, r. p. 

Rev. ■ Griffiths. 

N. Gibbs, Esq. r. p. 5 copies 
Mrs. Gibbs, r. p. 5 copies, 
Mrs. Garrett, r. p. 
Rev. Dr, Thomas Green. 



List of Subscribers. 

Miss Guntliorpe. 
Miss Guise. 

Francis Gosling, Esq. r. p. 2 copies. 

Mrs. Green, r. p. 2 copies. 

Rev. W. Gomm. 

Richard Gray, Esq. r. p. 

Robert Gray, Esq. r. p. 

Mr. O. G. Gilchrist, r. p. 

James Gordon, Esq. r. p. 

Mr. Richard Greatheed, r. p. 2 co^iijs. 

Mrs. S. Greatheed, r. p. 

Mrs. E. Greatheed, r, p. 

Major Gamble, 2 copies, 

Mr. Gilbert. 

H. 

Marquis of Hertford, r. p, 2 copies. 

Earl of Haddington 

Countess of Haddington. 

Viscountess Hao.arden, r. p. 

Viscountess Hov/e, r. p. 

Rt. Hon. Lady Hobart, r. p. 

Rt. Hon. Lady Howa'd, r. p. 

Rt. Hon. Lady Harevvood, r. p. 

Lord Bishop of Hereford, r. p. 10 copies. 

Lady Mary Hume, r. p. 

Lady Hesketh, 2 copies. 

Lady Harrington r. p. 

Sir J.C. Hippesley, Bart. r. p. 5 copies. 

Sir Richard Heron, Bart. r. p. 2 copies. 

Sir Richard Hern, r. p. 2 copies. 

Hon. and Rev. Henry Ho >art, r. p, 

Hon. Mrs. Walpole, r. p. 



xxii List of Subscribers. 

Hon. Mrs. Harcoint^ r. p. 
Hon. Mrs. Harley_, r. p. 
Miss Harley^ r. p. 
John Halwell, Esq. r. p. 
Rev. John Hammet, r. p. 
Mrs. Hanbury^ r. p. 
Rev, J. Hand. ' 
Rev. R. Hare^ r. p. 
Charles Harvey, Esq. 
Rev. G. A. Hatch, r. p. 
Mr. S. Hazard, 2 copies. 
Rev. Dr. G. Heath, r. p. 
Miss Hebden. 

Richard Heber, Esq. r. p. 2 copies, 

John Heaviside, Esq. r. p. 

Mr. HelHer, r. p. 

Rev. J. Heming, 

Mrs. Henley, r. p. 

Miss H^enley, r. p. 

Rev. C. R. Herbert, r. p. 

Rev. W. Herringham, 3 copies. 

Rev. G. Hibbs, r. p. 

Gideon Hebert, Esq. r. p. 

Miss Hill, r. p. 

Samuel Hine, Esq. r. p. 

Henry Hobhouse, Esq. r. p. 3 copies. 

Mrs. Hobliouse, r. p. 

Miss Hobhouse, r. p. 

Rev. R. Hodgson, r. p. 

Rev. Holland, r. p. 

William Holder, Esq. r. p. 
Rev. C. Hollingberry, r. p. 
Mrs. Holroyd, 2 copies 
Miss Hopkins. 



List of Subscribers. 

Miss Horde. 

John Houlton^ Esq, r. p. 

Rev. Thomas Hughes^ r. p. 5 copies. 

Miss Hughes J r. p. 

Rev. Hiime^ r. p. 

James Hume_, Esq. r. p. 
Mr. Hughes^ r. p. 

Miss Elizabeth Benthley Hughes, r. p. 

Mrs. Hoilingbury, r. p. 

Rev. William Howley. 

Rev. William Harrison. 

Mrs. Hopcroft. 

Rev. Joshua Hole_, r. p. 

Andrew Harrison, Esq. r. p. 

John Harrison, Esq. r. p. 

Rev. Hole. 

Rev. AVilliam Heberden, r. p.. 

Rev. Horndon, r. p^ 

Mrs. Hunt. 

Mrs. Hay^vard, r. p. 

Rev. Herbert Hawes, r. p. 

Mrs. Hussey, r. p. 

Miss Hinxman, r. p. 

Miss Hubbart, r. p. 

Rev. F. Hornfray. 

Mrs. Home. 

Mrs. David Hume. 

Miss Hume. 

Hay, Esq, Drumelzier. 

Mrs. Hay, Drumelzier. 

Hay, Esq. Nunraw. 

Miss Hay. 

Rev. Gilbert Heathcote, r. p. 
Rev. Dr. Hay, r. p. 2 copies. 



xxiv List of Subscribers. 

Rev. Richard Harvey^ r. p. 

Rev. Richard Harvey, Jiin. r. p. 

Charles Harwood, Esq. 

Rev. James Hickes, r. p. 

Mrs. Hickes, r. p. 

John Hatsell, Esq. r. p. 

Ludford Harvey^ Esq. r. p. 

Rev. G. A. Hatch, r. p. 

Josiah Heathcote, Esq. r. p. 5 copies. 

Williain Hoare, Esq. r. p. 

Miss Hulse, r. p. 

Mrs. Hutton, r. p. 

Miss Frances Harley, r. p. 5 copies. 

Mr. Hyde, r. p. 

Mrs. Hopkins. 

Miss Hebden. 

Mr. Hobbs. 

Rev. John Headham, r. p. 

' I. 

Lady Jones, r. p. 
Mrs. James, r. p. 

Rev. Jelfersoii, r. p. 

Rev. Dr. Jenkms. 
Rev. J. Jenkins, r. p. 
Mrs. Jenkins^, r. p. 
Richard Ingram, Esq. r. p, 
John Jortin, Esq. r. p. 
Mrs. Jeffreys, r. p. 

Rev. Jacob, r. p. 

Mrs. Jolf. 

Mrs. Jukes, r. p. 

Robert Jeuner, Esq. r. p. 



List of Subscribers. 

Mrs. Jenner^ r. p. 
Rev. Dr. Ingram, r. p.. 
Miss Ingle, r. p. 
Rev. E. Jones. 
Rev. Thomas Jones. 
Rev. G. L. Jen}iis, r. p, 
Mrs. Jortin, r. p. 
T. Jefferys, Esq. r. p. 

Rev. Iremonger. 

Mrs. Iremonger, r. p. 

Mrs. Imies, r. p. 

G. W. Jennings, Esq. 

Johnstone, Esq. 

Mrs, Jephson, r. p. 

Rev. Jephson. 

Mrs. S. Jenner, r. p. 
Rev. Dr. Jenkin, 
Mr. Jones. 

K. 

Rev. Dr. Kettilby, r. p. 

Rev. Dr. King, r. p. 

Rev. J. W. King, r. p. 

Thomas King, Esq. r. p. 

Miss Keene, r. p. 

Rev. Henry Kett, 2 copies. 

Mr. Thomas Kift. 

Charles Knatchbiill, Esq. r. p. 

Mrs. Knatchbiill, r. p. 

J. G. Knight, Esq. r. p. 2 copies. 

Mr. KnyftOD, r. p. 

Mrs. Knyfton, r. p. 

Kev. William Kinieside, r. p. 



xxvi List of Subscribers, 

Rev. Kilvert, r. p. 

Miss Knellarj r. p. 
Mrs. Murray Keith. 
William Knowlys,, Esq. r. p. 



L. 



Countess of Lonsdale, r. p. 

Countess of Loudoun. 

Viscount Lowther. r. p. 

Viscountess Lo^^ther_, r. p. 5 copies. 

Lord Bishop of London,, r. p. 10 copies. 

Lord Bishop of Leighlin and Fems^ r. p. 5 copies. 

Rt. Hon. Lady Lucas. 

Rt. Hon. Lady Lifford. 

Rt. Hon. Lady Leslie, r. p. 

Hon. and Rev. E. Legge, r. p. 

Major-General Lambert, r. p. 

Major Lambert, r. p. 

Mr. John Langley. 

Dr. Latham, r. p. 3 copies. 

Mrs. Lawton, r. p. 10 copies. 

Miss Lawton^ r. p. 10 copies. 

Rev. W. Leeves_, r. p. 

Mr. Leman, r. p. 

Miss Leman, r. p. 2 copies. 

William Long, Esq. r. p. 3 copies. 

Mr. Lynd, r. p. 3 copies. 

Rev. Francis Leighton, r. p. 

Mrs. Lee, r. p. 

Matthew Lewis, Esq. r. p. 

Mrs. Beeston Long, r. p. 

Anthony Lechmere_, Esq. r. p. 



List of Subscribers^ xxvii 

William Lygoii^ Esq. r. p. 

Rev. Litley. 

Rev. — ^ Lovering. 
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CONTENTS. 



SERMON I. 

PAO£. 

Nativity of our Blessed Saviour. 

Matt. xi. 3. Art thou he that should come, or 
do Zi)e look for another ? 1 



SERMON II. 

Epiphany ; or, Manifestation of our Lord 
to the Gentiles. 

Matt. ii. ly 2. Nozv when Jesus was bom in 
Bethlehem of Judea, in the Days of Herod 
the King, behold, there came Wise Men front, 
the East to Jerusalem^ 



^Ivi ConienU, 

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the 
Jews? For we have seen his Star in the East, 
and are come to worship him. . <, 



SERMON III. 
GOOD FRiDxVY. 

On the Crucifixion of Christ. 

Isaiah Hii. 4, 5. Surelij he hath borne oiif 
Griefs, and carried our Sorrows : yet we did 
esteem him stricken, smitten of God and af 
Jiicted. 

But he zms zmunded for our Transgressions ; 
he was bruised for our Iniquities: the C has- 
tisement of our Peace was upon him; and 
with his Stripes zve are healed <; 3f 



SERMON IV. 
EASTER D^AY: 

Or, the Resurrection of our Blessed 
Savioun 

I Corinth, xv. 17. If Christ he mt raised, your 
Faith is vain, ye are yet in your Sins^ . * . * ... 53 



Contents. 



PAGE» 

SERMON y, 
WHIT-SUNDAY : 

Or, the Descent of the Holy Ghost. 

John xiv. £6. The Comforter, which is the Holy 
Ghost, whom the Father will send in my Name, 
he shall teach you all Things, and bring all 
Things to your Remembrance, whatsoever I 
hav€ said unto you * 7 1 

SERMON VI. 

The Praise of God to be preferred to 
the Praise of Men. 

St. John xii. 43. They loved the F raise of Men, 
more than the Praise of God 89 



SERMON VIL 

On the Ixxiid Psalm. 

PART I. 

psalm Ixxii* 18^ 19. Blessed be the Lord God^ 
even the God of Israel, zchich only doeth won- 
der ous Things; 

And blessed be the Name of his Majesty for 
ever : and all the Earth shall be filed with 
his Majesty, Amen. Amen, 105 



Contents* 



SERMON VIlIo 



On the Ixxiid Psalm. 

PART II. 

Psalm Ixxii. 18, 19- Blessed be the Lord God) 
even the God of Israel, which only doeth 
wonderous Things; 

And blessed be the Name of his Majesty for 
ever ; and all the Earth shall be filed with 
his Majesty, Amen, Amen 12.^ 

SERMON IX. 
On the Ixxiid Psalm. 

PART III. 

Psalm Ixxii. 18, 19- Blessed be the Lord God, 
even the God of Israel, which only doeth 
zvonderous Things ; 

And blessed be the Name of his Majesty for 
ever : and all the Earth shall be filed with 
his Majesty. Amen, Amen. » . . 141 

SERMON X. 

On the General Fast, 1796. 
Psalm cxxx. 4. There is Mercy with thee : 
therefore shalt thou be feared 157 

Preached before the King. 



Contents, 



xlix 



SERMON XL 

The Excellence of the English Laws. 

Deut. iv. 6, Keep therefore and do them, for 
this is your Wisdom and your Understanding 
in the sight of the Nations, which shall hear 
all these Statutes, and say. Surely this great 
Nation is a wise and understanding People. . ,173 

Preached before Sir Giles Rooke^ at the Mayor s 
Chapel^ in Bristol, August 29^ 1802. 



SERMON xn. 



On the Folly of Sin. 

St. John i. 47. Behold an Israelite indeed, in 
whom is no guile 189 



SERMON Xm. 

The Advantages of Religion. 

Psalm Ixxxiv. 11. I had rather be a Door- 
keeper in the House of my God, than to dwell 
in the Taits of Ungodliness, 203 



1 



Contents, 



PACK. 

SERMON Xli\ 



On the Cure of the Paralytic. 

Matt. ix. 2. SoTij be of good cfieeVj thy Sins be 
forgiven thee 221 



SERMON XV. 



The Necessity of referring our Conduct 
to the divine Judgment. 

1 Cor. iv, 3j 4. With me it is a veri/ small 
Thing, that T shonld be judged of you, or of 
Mans Judgment ; yea, I judge, not mine own 
self: 

For I knozv nothing by myself yet am I not 
hereby justified ; hut he that judgeth me is the 
Lord 237 

SERMON XVL 



The iNecessity of being prepared for 
Death. 

Luke xii. 43c ]Blesstd is that Sertctnt-, ioh&m 
his Lord, when he cofheth, shall find so doing. . ^53 



Cofitents, 



SERMON XVII. 

The Reward attendant on the Conversion 
of a Sinner. 

St. James v. 20. He, which converteth the Sin- 
ner from the error of his way, shall save a 
Soul from Death, and shall hide a multitude 
of Sins 273 

Preached before the Governors of the Magdalen 
Hospital, May 4, 1802. 



SERMON I. 

IS^AT IVITY OF OUR BLESSED SAVlOURo 



Matt. xi. 3, 

Art thou he that Jlioidd come, or do we 
look for another ? 

^ I ^HE queftion here afked of our ever- seri^i, 
bleffed Lord, by the Difciples of v^vw 
John the Baptiit, in obedience to the 
commands of their Mafter, muft, as long 
as this world endures, be of the fame im- 
portance* The anfwer to it muft always be 
fteadily appealed to by every fincere and 
faithful believer. It expreffes the foun- 
dation of his own ineftimable hope, and 
fuggefts confiderations fully adequate to 
the fatisfa6tion of every candid mindj 
honeftly engaged in the fearch of truth* 
It is our indifpenfable duty, my beloved 
brethren, to labour earneftly and con- 
ftantly, not only to the eftablifhment of 
B a found 



3 Nativity of our'BleJJed Saviour. 

SERM, a found faith, in the hearts of thofe com- 
I. . 

>^v^ mitted to our charge; but alfo towards 
the qualification of them, to the beft of 
our powers, to communicate to others, 
in the common intercourfe of fociety, that 
knowledge, with the happinefs attendant 
upon it, which, both to us and to them, 
niuft appear the moft valuable of the 
bleffings we now enjoy. 

Under this impreffion of my duty, I 
fliall beg your ferious confideration of a 
portion of the Gofpel of St. Matthew, 
appointed for this day^ which I will affert, 
without fear of contradi6lion, could not 
have exifted as it does upon record, had 
not Jefus been the true Meffiah, had not 
whatfoever we in our Creed profefs to 
believe of him been taught by the word 
of the God of all Truth, had not the 
precepts and the fan6tions of his religion 
been derived from the fame eternal and 
incorruptible fource. The palTage to 
which I wifh to call your attention begins 
thus : 



** Now,'' faith the Evangelift, " when 

" Joh^ 



l^aiiviiy of our BteJJed Saviour, 3 

'^^ John had heard in the prifon the works of s erm. 

• • • I 
" Chriftj he fent two of his Difciplesj and 

" faid unto him. Art thou he that fhould 
" come, or do we look for another You 
will agree with me, that it was not for his 
own information, or becaufe he entertained 
the leaft doubt upon the fubjeft, that St. 
John fent thefe two Difciples to make 
this enquiry. He, of whom the Angel 
had declared to his father Zacharias, be- 
fore his birth, that he ftiould be filled 
with the Holy Ghoft, even from his 
mother's womb ; he to whom it had been 
declared by God, who fent him, Upon 
" whom thou flialt fee the Spirit defcend- 
" ing and remaining upon him, the fame 
" is he which baptizeth with the Holy 
" Ghoft;" he, that not only faw this, 
but had borne record that this was the 
Son of God ; he, I fay, muft have been 
fully apprized and convinced of the nature 
and charafter of the Divine Perfon, the 
fame of whofe mighty works had entered 
within the walls of his prifon. His obje6l 
in fending his Difciples was indeed the 
fatisfa6tion and confirmation of the very 
perfons he fent ; the eftablifhment of them, 
B 2 and 



Katkity of our Blejjed Saviour. 

and tliofe they fliould hereafter teach of 
converfe with, in the behef, that Jefus of 
Nazareth and no one elfe muft be the 
true Meffiah. 

The expediency of this is very evident^ 
from what is related of thefe Difciples by 
St. John the Evangehft, that (apparently 
out of attachment to their Mafter, and 
from jealoufy of another teacher,) they 
came and complained to him, faying, 
" Rabbiy He that was with thee beyond 
" Jordan, to whom thou beareft witnefs^ 
" behold, the fame baptizeth, and all men 

come unto him." On this oceafion the 
Baptift had made an accurate diftinfilion 
between Jefus and himfelf; had called 
them to witnefs his former declaration, 
that he was not the Chriit, but fent be- 
fore him ; that Jefus was to increafe, but 
that he muft decreafe ; that God loved 
the Son, to whom he had given the Spirit 
without meafure, and alfo given all things 
into his hand ; that the believer in him 
had everlafting life, which was denied to 
the unbeliever, on whom, on the contrary^ 
the wrath of God would abide. 

The 



Nativity of our Blejed Saviotir. 

The objeft of the meflage being to re- seem. 
move this jealoufy, and to procure for them 
found inftru6tion on this great point, the 
anfwer returned by Jefus confpired, as 
we ftiall fee, to produce the intended ef- 
fe6ts. Let us confider them both. The 
queftion is, "Art thou he that (hould 
" come Prophane hiftory affures us of the 
univerfal expeftation exifting at that time of 
fome fuperior Perfon, who was to be fent 
from Heaven for the excellent purpofes of 
enlightening and of governing the world. 
The Greek philofophy had proceeded aS 
far as the power of human reafon could 
extend, in the inveftigation of the ftate, 
duties, and future expectations of men. 
The illuftrious difciple of Socrates had 
declared after him, the neceflity that far- 
ther information on points moft interefting 
to the human mind, fliould be fupplied 
from Heaven itfelf, and had even pre- 
dicted that a divine perfon would be fent 
to communicate this moft defirable know- 
ledge. Two Roman hiftorians, yet pre- 
ferved to us, bear teftimony to the ex- 
pectation, which prevailed all over th^ 
Eaft, that univerfal dominion fliould be 
5; 3 poffefled 



6 Nativitij of our Blejfed Saviour, 

SERM. pofleffed by fome coming from Judfea ^ 
y^^J^ and, notwithftanding the prejudices of the 
Romans againft the Jews, they affert this 
to be not only an ancient but uniformly 
prevalent opinion. That opinion indif-* 
putably originated from the Jewifh Scrip-r 
tures, the influence of which on the phi-^ 
lofophy, the mythology, and even the 
praftical religion, in many inftances, both 
of the Greeks and Romans, no man of 
learning can doubt one moment. Among 
the Jews themfelves, the expe6lation of 
this extraordinary perfon was more fer- 
vent ; not only, becaufe they poffeffed the 
prophecies, on which it was founded, but 
becaufe they cheriihed it, as exhibiting a 
profpe6l of the excluiive advantage and 
grandeur of their nation. The Samaritans 
alfo, notwithftanding the inveterate enmity 
fubfifting between them and the Jewsj, 
on account of religious contefts, agreed 
with them in the univerfal expeftation, 
and as to one great obje6t of the miffion 
of that perfon, the communication of the 
higheft knowledge which mankind could, 
In this ftate^ receive. 



I knQ<' 



Nativity of our BleJJed Saviour, f 
" I know/' faid the women of Samaria serm. 
to our Lord, " that Meffias cometh/' v^g^v%^ 
or is now coming, which is called 
^' Chrift; when he is come, he will tell 
" us all things/' Whether or not Jefus 
was that extraordinary perfon fo univerfally 
expefted was the queftion. The anfwer 
of our Lord to John's Difciples was, 
Go and ftiew John again thofe things, 
" which ye do hear and fee : The bhnd 
" receive their fight, and the lame walk, 
the lepers are cleanfed, and the deaf hear, 
" the dead are raifed up, and the poor have 
^' the Gofpel preached to them. And 
" bleffed is he whofoever ftiall not be of- 
" fended in me." In this anfwer our Lord 
referred to the diftinguifhing charafters 
of the Meffiah, as laid down by the 
ancient prophets; thofe very prophets, 
from whofe predictions the univerfal ex- 
peftation of the coming King and his 
Kingdom was originally derived. At the 
fame time, that our Lord gave this an- 
fwer, proving that he was the expefted 
perfon, he pronounced a blefling upon 
every one who fliould not be offended in 
him, that is, every one who ihould not 



8 Nativity of our Blejjed Saviour. 

SERM. rejeft the abundant teftimony of him, oc 
having once acknowledged him, afterT 
wards be induced by any obftacle, en- 
fnaring tempt?vtion, or difficulty of any 
fort, (for the word tranflated offence, means 
all this), to abandon his faith in him aS 
theMeffiah. 

You will remark, from our bleffed Lord 's 
triumphal entry into Jerufalem before his 
fufferings, and from the circumflances 
which attended it, that his claim to the 
high charafter of Meffiah, the King, wa§ 
generally acknowledged by the people. 
They praftifed thofe ceremonies on this 
occafion, which w^ere ufual at the inaugu- 
ration of the kings of Ifrael, by fpreading 
their garments in the way, as it was done 
we read when John was proclaimed. They 
cut down branches from the trees, and 
ftrewed them in the way as they ufed to 
do at the feaft of tabernacles, the church 
of which Jefus is the good Ihepherd,* hav= 
ing been prophetically called by Ezekiel, 
the tabernacle of David. They ufed thofe 

* Chap, xxxiv. ver. 23, 24. 

acclamations 



Nativity of our BleJJed Saviour. § 

^acclamations which were appUcable only to serm. 
-the great reftorer of man to the favour of v^-^ 
God; " Hofanna! Bleffed be the king that 
^' Cometh in the name of the Lord ! Peace 

in Heaven and glory in the higheft/' 
Neverthelefs the rulers, and afterwards the 
people, through their influence, were of^ 
fended at Jefus. They were offended on 
two accounts. One. was, that though he 
fully exhibited all the diftinguifliing markiS 
and chara6lers of the expefted Meffiah, he 
could not be fuch a Meffiah as accorded 
with the prejudices they had imbibed and 
cheriflied. Though born at Bethlehem, 
according to prophecy, he came forth from 
Nazareth of Galilee, a region defpicable in 
their opinion. " Shall Chrift,'^ faid fome of 
the people, " come out of Galilee.^ Search 
and look,^^ faid their rulers to Nicodemus, 

for out of Galilee arifeth no prophet/* 

So far indeed was the humble Jefus 
from appearing at all likely to become 
a mighty deliverer of their nation from 
the fubje6lion in which they were held ; 
fo far was the prince of peace from 
jiolding out any encouragement of their 

ambitious 



Nativity of our Blejfed Saviour, 

M. ambitious hopes of temporal and in* 
deed univerfal dominion, that the Jew- 
ifh council, on confideration of his mi- 
racles, efpecially that of railing the 
dead, were alarmed left this perfon 
ftiould, as they faid, be believed on by 
all men ; that the people ftiould ele£l 
him king, and thus provoke the Romans 
to come, and, as they ^xpreffed it, to 
take away their place and nation/' The 
carpenter's fon, as he was falfely called at 
Nazareth, where alfo they were offended 
at him, notwithftanding the wifdom and 
mighty works they were compelled to ac-» 
knowledge with admiration ; the carpen- 
ter's fon feemed to the whole nation of 
the Jews likely to irritate, but by no 
means to fubdue, the Romans ; an event 
to which they looked forward with se- 
cret hope ; though with hypocritical pre- 
tence of attachment to the Roman go- 
vernment, they accufed Jefus of endea* 
vouring to make himfelf a king, and 
fpeaking againft or oppofing Caefar. 

But they were alfo offended at our 
divine mafter^ tecaufe he faid alfo that 

God 



Nativity of our Bkjfed Saviour . 11 
God was his Father, making himfelf equal serm» 
with God, They had no doubt of the VfPv^ 
nature of his high pretenfions. They 
fought to kill him not only for breaking 
the fabbath, by healing the fick on that 
day, but for the caufe thus avowed, For 
^' a good work we ftone thee not ; but for 
^' blafphemy, and becaufe that thou, being 
a man, makeft thyfelf God Thefe our 
Lord's pretenfions they however thought 
were entirely fruft rated, and the vanity 
and prefumption of them expofed when 
they faw him crucified. On this ground- 
lefs conviftion they infulted him both as 
to his Royalty and his Godhead. " If he 
" be the King of Ifrael, let him,'' faid they, 
come down from the Crofs, and we will 
believe him. If thou be the Son of 
^' God, come down from the Crofs/' 

In this manner, my beloved brethren, 
were the Jewifti Chief Priefts and Rulers ; 
^nd in this manner were the Jewifti people, 
whom the Chief Priefts and Rulers had 
perfuaded to deftroy Jefus, offended at 

* John X, 3Ss 

him* 



13 Nativity of our BleJJed Saviour, 

SERM. him. — On the confideration of this fub- 
s^^^v^ jeft, it naturally arifes in the mind of 
every Chriftian Hearer, to fay, with St. 
Peter, ^' Though all men {hould be of- 
" fended becaufe of thee, vet will I never 
^' be offended but let no man reft fecurely 
on the fincerity, with which he now makes 
this juft refolution, nor on the fervour 
with which it is expreffed. " When the fon 
" of man cometh,'' faith our Lord, " fhall 
" he find faith upon the earth If this 
warning relates, as it probably does, to 
the fecond coming of Chrift, as it indif- 
putably did to his firft coming, to take 
vengeance of his enemies; if there be 
reafon to apprehend a great apoftacy from 
the true faith before that final confum^ 
mation; if among thofe who call them- 
felves Chriftians at this day, the feeds of 
fuch an apoftacy feem now to be fpringing 
up and flourifliing, and even producing 
their baneful fruits in a variety of licen- 
tious and extravagant errors, and in the 
conduct indiffolubly connefled with an 
iinfound faith ; fhall the Chriftian Minifter 
neglefl to inftrucl thofe, who now con- 
template the firft coming of our Saviour 

\vith 



Nativity of our EleJJed Saviour, IS 

\vith grateful joy, how they may, by serm. 
God's grace, be defended from thofe er- v,^v^ 
roneous, thofe fatal principles and prac- 
tices, which muft render the fecond 
coming of Chrift an objeft of horror to 
all among whom they ftiall have prevailed, 
and their final deftination at his judgment, 
a calamity without remedy ? 

In his human nature Jefus Chrift ap- 
peared as the Lord's anointed in three 
charailers, as Prophet, Prieft, and King. 
Let Chriftians beware left they be of- 
fended at him in any one of thefe cha- 
rafters. 

Confidering him as a Prophet ; let them 
take heed left they entertain a doubt con- 
cerning any thing predi6led by his own 
lips, as the Evangelifts have recorded ; re- 
membering his folemn affertion, " Heaven 
" and Earth fhall pafs away ; but my words 
" ftiall not pafs away." Let them be equally 
cautious not to queftion any thing in the 
writings of thofe upon whom he fent the 
Holy Spirit, according to his gracious 
promife, to teach them all things, and 

bring 



14 Nativity of our BkJJed Saviour^ 

sERxM bring all things to their remembranceji 
v-^v^ whatfoever he had faid unto them* Let 
the faithful difciple, let him who labors 
to work out his own falvation with fear 
and trembhng, retreat with apprehenfion 
from any man or any feQj who prefume 
either to mutilate Scripture, or to dimi- 
nifti the authority of the leaft part of it, 
or to oppofe the opinions of a prefump- 
tuous philofophy againft the irrefragable 
arguments ftated in the New Teftament, 
to eftablifli the faith of the earlieft Chrif- 
tians, and that of others to the end of 
time. Let the faithful difciple remember, 
that offences, gainfayers, and even mock- 
ers, to come in the laft and perilous times, 
are predi6led both by Chrift and his 
Apoftles ; and let his prayers be conftant,' 
that our heavenly Father may prote6l him 
from being fpoiled through philofophy or 
any vain deceit. 

Confidering our Lord in his charafler 
of Prieft, as a High Prieft for ever, after 
the order of Melchizedeck, let every one 
hold faft, without wavering, without he* 
fitation in receiving and believing that 

myftery 



'Nativity of our Blejfed Saviour. 15 

myftery of godlinefs revealed to us in serm. 
him, a firm faith and truft in that atone- 
ment which he came upon earth, as at 
this time^ to make for the fins of all man* 
kind. Let every one be on his guard 
againft that falfe, that peftilent herefy, 
which labors to mifreprefent that atone- 
ment, though predifted through the whole 
feries of ancient prophecy, though typified 
by all the rites and ceremonies, and more es- 
pecially by the facrifices of that law, " which 
was,"' St. Paul faith, " our fchoolmafter, to 
" bring us unto Chrift," as inexpedient or 
impoffible to be effefted by Jefus, or un- 
worthy of the attributes of God the 
Father. Let him refleft, that if the 
finner, convinced of the error of his way, 
lets go this hope in the merits of Chrift ; 
let him be affured, that if he fuffers him- 
felf to be in this point offended in him, 
he muft of neceffity become of all men 
moft miferable. 

Confidering our Lord as the Meffiah, 
the anointed King, let us efpecially take 
care that we be not offended at that claim 
of fupreme rule and direction of all our 

beft 



i& 'Nativity of our Blejfed Saviour: 

SER]\i beft purpofes and endeavours, which 
w^J^ juftlj our Lord's, in oppofition to all the. 
vain pretenfions of our mortal enemies. 
Let us remember his warning, of the im- 
poffibility of ferving two matters; and 
let us, fo far from being offended by the 
wholefonie reftri6lions with which his: 
fervice binds us, or the indifpenfable 
duties and felf-denial it demands of us, 
prefer it and perform it, as what it is in 
truth, the fervice of perfe6l freedom. 
But, above all things, let us hold faft that 
effential article of our holy faith, that 
article upon which the whole fcheme of 
our redemption depends, that article^ 
without which the whole ftupendous 
lyftem of Revelation muft fall into con- 
fufion, the belief of the eternal godhead 
of our Saviour Jefus Chrift. His inve- 
terate enemies, while he was bodily upon 
Earth, had, as you have feen, no doubt of 
his pretenlions to fupreme divinity, finee 
they proceeded to ftone him, becaufe he 
made himfelf equal with God. Thefe 
his indifputable pretenfions have never-;' 
thelefs been prefumptuoufly queftionedy 
even by many who call themfelves after 

his 



Nativity of our Bkjfed Saviour. 17 
his name, and probably will be by fome, serm, 
till he lhall come again in the clouds of 
Heaven, in the majefty of his divinity, 
in power, and great glory. The un- 
believer will then be convinced of it 
too late ; but in the mean time, let him 
who is fteadfaft in this faith (as may God 
preferve every one of you !) remember 
and rely upon this our Lord s declara- 
tion : " Bleffed is he, whofoever {hall 
^' not be offended in me/' 



c 



SERMON 



SERMON IL 



EPIPHANY, OR MANIFESTATION OF 
OUR LORD TO THE GENTILES. 



Matt. ii. 1, 

Now rohen Jefus was born in Bethlehem of 
Judcea^ in the days of Herod the King^ 
behold^ there came wife Men from the 
Eaji to Jerufalem^ 

Sayings Where is he that is born King of 
the Jews ? For we have feen his Star in 
the Eaji^ and are come to worjliip him. 

The Epiphany, or Manifeftation of 
Chrift to the Gentiles, is a point in our 
bleffed Saviours hiftory, which we have 
reafon to beUeve will be more and more 
illuftrated, in proportion to the acquaint- 
ance men gain with nations hitherto little 
known. It muft be a fource of heartfelt 
c 2 fatisfaclion 



Epiphaivj, or Manifejiaiion 

fatisfaftion to every fincere Chriftian, to. 
believe that the intercourfe occafioned by 
the progrels of arms, and arts, ^vill open 
to him new difcoveries, in proof of the 
authenticity of thefe Scriptures, upon 
which he juftly grounds his faith. Thus 
doth it pleafe God to make that which 
arifes from the evil paffions of men, (I 
mean war) an inftrument of their im- 
provement in true wifdom ; and even that 
traffic which is in a great meafure fup- 
ported by fupplying the luxury of man-t 
kind, ultimately conducive to the im- 
provement of faciety, and the difFufion of 
knowledge. 

It is indeed reafonable to expe6l, that 
various confirmations of the fa£ls con- 
tained in the facred records, fliould moft 
plentifully be difcovered among diftant 
nations, at fuch a time as the prefent, 
when the moft violent, and perhaps the 
expiring ftruggle of the enemies of truth, 
is exerted to overthrow that Church, 
againft which the gates of hell fhall never 
prevail. 



In 



of our Lord to the Gentiles, 

In confidering the Epiphany, we (hall 
have opportunity of fubmitting to you 
certain remarks, which may contribute to 
the encouragement of this hope, among 
the patient and faithful obfervers of the 
ways of divine Providence. 

The perfons who came to Jerufalem to 
enquire after a King that was born, are 
(in our tranflation of the New Teftament,) 
called Wife Men, in the original Mocyot^ 
or Magi. They were moft eminent in 
the fciences which were cultivated bv the 
eaftern nations, particularly aftronomy, 
and during the conftant obfervations made 
in their own country, had perceived the 
appearance of a ftar hitherto unknown to 
them ; whence they concluded, that an 
illuftrious perfon was born king of the 
Jews. 

We are told by an ancient writer, Chal- 
cidius, in his comment on a work of 
Plato, that it was beheved that a new 
flar rifmg generally portended the dif- 
eafes of nations, and the deaths of many 
princes ; but (fays the fame author) there 
c 3 is 



Epiphany, or Manifejiation 

is another more holy and venerable hif- 
tory, which declares, that by the rifing 
of a certain ftar, not difeafes and deaths 
were denounced, but the coming down 
of a venerable God, for the fake of hu- 
man prefervation, and of the interefts of 
mankind. Which ftar, when the Wife Men 
of the Chaldseans had feen in their nightly 
progrefs, being well verfed in the conli- 
deration of heavenly fubje6ls, they are 
faid to have fought after the recent birth 
of a God ; and having difcovered the 
infant Majefty, worfliipped him, and paid 
their vows to him, in a maimer becoming 
fo great a Deity. 

It has been a fubje6l of enquiry, how 
thefe wife perfons were determined to 
interpret the appearance of this flar to 
have fo very different an import from that 
generally afcribed among them, to new 
and extraordinary ones ? If we fuppofe 
them to have known the prophecy of 
Balaam, wherein the Mefliah, the anointed 
King of the Jews, is foretold as a Star 
which fhould come out of Jacob, and 
a fceptre to rife out of Ifrael, it is 

natural 



of our Lord to the Gentiles. 

natural to fuppofe that at this time when, 
(as feveral Roman hiftorians ^ teftify) an 
ancient and conftant opinion had fpread 
all over the Eaft, that a llipreme ruler 
ftiould come forth from Judsea, they 
would confider this appearance as a token 
of the accomplifliment of that aftonifhing 
prophecy. There are (I am aware) re- 
fpeclable writers, -j^ to whom it feems a 
groundlefs conje6lure to fuppofe, that the 
Magi were led to the iignifi cation of the 
ftar by fome tradition of Balaam's pro- 
phecy. But from this opinion there is 
reafon to differ. Continual difcoveries are 
now made of the traces of the Mofaic 
hiftory, in countries far more remote 
than Chaldaea, even in India itfelf, where 
moft ancient traditions correfpond won- 
derfully, not only with many fafts therein 
recorded, but with fome of the fublimeft 
doftrines of true religion. Thefe corref- 
pendencies are now accurately inveftigated. 
by men w^ell qualified for fuch an under- 
taking. It is impoffible to afcertain how 

* Suetonius, Tacitus, &:c. 
Parkhurft's Gr. Lex. Mayot. 

c 4 widely 



24 Epiphanij^ or Manifcjtatmi 

SERM. widely the Jews difperfed themfelves after 
\^-v^ the Babylonifh captivity. They increafed 
exceedingly at that time, and made in-r 
numerable profelytes to their religion, for 
in the Afts of the Apoftles, we read of 
" Jews, devout men, from every nation 
" under heaven/' To thefe profelytes, 
they mufi undoubtedly have communicated 
their traditions, and among them that 
national one relative to the expefted 
Meffiab. 

Hence, and from the writings of the 
prophet Daniel, the Perfian Magi, or 
Wife Men, were prepared for the coming 
of this extraordinary perfon ; and it feems 
more than probable, that thofe who came 
to Jerufhlem to enquire after the king 
that was born, had been alfo affured, by an 
immediate revelation, that the ftar they 
had obferved in the Eaft, or at its rifing,; 
was defigned to afcertain his birth ; for in 
their enquiry, they fay, " Where is he that 
" is born king of the Jews and fpeaking 
of the ftar, they exprefsly call it his, In^ 
deed it feems to require little lefs than a 
conviftion of this Ibrt, to have induced 

them 



of our Lord to the Gentiles. ^5 
them to venture to Jerufalem, and there serm. 
a(k of a prince of Herod's jealous, and 
cruel char after, where that king was, 
whofe exiftence muft give him (as it really 
did), fo much caufe of alarm. Herod, 
it is evident, gave them full credit for the 
caufe, and the motives of their journey. 
His opinion of both was the fame with 
that of his fubjefts ; not only he was 
troubled, but all Jerufalem with him. 
He immediately fummoned the great 
council, and demanded of them, where 
Chrift fhould be born ? To which they 
anfwered by quoting that prophecy of 
Micah, where Bethlehem is exprefsly 
named as the place of his future nativity. 
By this anfwer were the Wife Men, who 
w^ell knew from the ftar that the expected 
king was born in Judaea, enabled to dif- 
cover in what part of its territory they 
{houid find the obje6l of their enquiry. 

. It may feem furprizing, that Herod 
fhould vainly endeavour to countera6t 
what appeared to be fo entirely the effeft 
of divine interpofition ; but he was indeed 
a man of a truly abandoned and repro- 
bate 



Epiphany^ or Manifejiation 

M. bate mind. His paflions and apprehen- 
fions drove him on to the commiffion of 
the moft enormous crimes, bhnd to the 
dreadful judgments which he was accu- 
mulating for himfelf His application to 
the Wife Men is full of hypocrify. He 
called for them privately, and enquired of 
them diligently, or (as I believe it might 
be better tranflated) * learned from them 
exa6tly w4iat time the ftar appeared. 
This was to guide him as to his cruel 
purpofe of cutting off the infant, a pur- 
pofe difguifed under the charge he gave 
to the Wife Men, when he fent them to 
Bethlehem, " Go, and fearch diligently 
" for the young child ; and when ye have 
found him, bring me word again, that 
" I may come and worfliip him thus 
concealing his intention to murther him, 
whom he pretends it is his wilh to ac- 
knowledge as a God. 

The Wife Men w^ere exprefsly forbidden, 
in a dream, to return to him ; but he en- 
raged at being thus deluded and difap- 



* See Hammond in loc. 



pointed 



of our Lord to the Gentiles, 

pointed by them, " fent forth and flew s 
" all the children which were in Beth- 
" lehem, and the coafts thereof, from 
" two years old and under, according to 
the time which he had exaftly learned 
« of the AVife Men." 

Macrobius, a Latin writer of the fixth 
century, and a chamberlain of the Em- 
peror Theodofius, informs us, that one of 
Herod's own children was among the 
innocents flain by his command, and tells 
us, that it was on this occafion that Au- 
guftus, cenfuring Herod's cruelty, and at 
the fame time fatirizing what he thought 
fuperftition in the Jews refpecling meats, 
faid, It was better to be Herod's fwine 
" than his fon." He had indeed before 
put to death his fons Alexander a]:id 
Ariftobulus, befide many others ; but I 
mean not to enlarge on his odious cha- 
rafter; and fhall only recall to the me- 
mory of thofe acquainted with his hiftory, 
the manner of his death, which is defcribed 
by Jofephus, as having taken place under 
the protrafted torments of a molt loath- 
fome difeafe ; during which he had com- 
manded 



28 Epiphany^ or Manifejlatioli 

SERM. manded that all thofe perfons of rank 
<s,^^K^^' whom he had in prifon, fliould be mur- 
thered as foon as he fhould die, that no 
family might have caufe to rejoice at his 
deceafe. This cruelty was not carried 
into execution, but it ftands upon record, 
the teflimony of a mind hardened in 
impenitence, and an example of terror to 
all mankind. 

But I turn from this Herod, unde- 
fervedly called the Great, and prior to 
Herod Antipas, the murtherer of the 
Baptift, before whom our Lord was car- 
ried before his pafllon, to the further 
confideration of the adoration of our Lord 
by the Wife Men. The Evangelift informs 
us, that " when they had heard the king, 
" they departed, and, io, the ftar which 
" they had feen in the Eaft appeared 
" again to them, and went before them, 
" till it came and flood over where the 
" young child w^as/' At this re-appear- 
ance of the ftar, which muft have been 
diftinguiftiecl by its fmgularity from all 
others, and moft likely by its place, and 
alfo its motion, " they rejoiced with ex- 

" ceeding 



of our Lord to the Gerdiks. 

ceeding great joy. And when they 
" were come into the houfe, they faw the 
" young child, with Mary his mother, 

and fell down and worlhipped him; and 

w^hen they had opened their treafures, 
" they prefented unto him gifts, gold, 

and frankincenfe, and myrrh/' 

Thefe offerings with which they ap- 
proached our bleffed Lord, w^ere of thofe 
things which w^ere of the higheft value in 
the Eaft; and the cuftom of thus ap- 
proaching princes with coftly prefents, is, 
w^e know^, prevalent in the Eaft unto this 
day ; but it feems plain from the nature 
of them, that the Magi had a fenfe of 
our Lord's character, and an underftand- 
ing of the nature of his miffion, conform- 
able with that which the prophecies of 
the Old Teftament foretold, and the Gof- 
pel-hiftory declares. 

They offered him myrrh, a principal 
ingredient among thofe which they ufed 
to preferve dead bodies from putrefaftion, 

to one who w^as to fubmit himfelf even 

unto 



Epiphany^ or Manifejiation 

unto death, to make atonement and re* 
conciliation for the loft race of man. 

They offered him gold, as a tribute 
due to the univerfal King, a tribute ac- 
ceptable as a provifion for that journey 
and refidence in Egypt, to which Jofeph 
was direfted by the angel of God, be- 
caufe Herod fought to deftroy the young 
child. 

They offered him frankincenfe, un- 
doubtedly as to a God, this being burnt 
not only on tl eir own altars, but alfo in 
the worftiip of the only true God, ac- 
cording to his own inftitution by his fer- 
vant Mofes. 

In this manner they, by the divine de- 
fignation, in part fulfilled that prophecy 
of David, which will in time receive its 
full accomplifhment in the world. " The 

kings of Tharfis and the Ifles fhall give 
" prefents : the kings of Arabia and 
" Saba fhall bring gifts. All kings fhall 
" fall down before him : all nations fhall 
" do him fervice.^' P/ kxii. 10, 11. 

Perhaps 



of our Lord to the Gentiles, 31 

Perhaps it may be afked. Why, fince serm. 
it pleafed God thus to manifeft his Son to v^^-y^ 
the eaftern Gentiles, they have not at 
this day univerfally adopted the Chriftian 
faith ? It might have with equal propriety 
been alked by the Jews, Why hath it 
pleafed God to fingle us out of the nations 
of the earth, and leave others compara- 
tively ignorant of him ? Among the Jews, 
we very well know, this diftinftion pro- 
duced a great degree of fpiritual pride, 
and hence they reje6ted that revelation to 
which their own law was no more than 
an introduftion. Among Chriftians, I 
mean merely profeffional ones, a queftion 
of this fort arifes from a doubt of the 
truth of the very Gofpel, which they pre- 
tend to beheve. Though inattentive to 
its want of efFeft on their own hearts and 
conduft, they exprefs their furprize that 
its dominion is not yet univerfaL 

But all the fons of men are in the 
hands of God, as the clay in the hands 
of the potter. He will bring them to 
hmifelf, by means which his divine wif- 
dom hath pre-determined, and human 

forefight 



Epiphany^ or Manifejiation 

fore£ght cannot imagine. Little perhaps 
are we aware how much of Chriftianity is 
known and praftifed among nations, to 
which we are ftrangers ; but, we know 
that the conduft of many virtuous people, 
among whom Chriftianity hath not yet 
ftione in its full fplendour, is a reproach 
to us M^ho are elated with the privileges 
of it, which are fo ineftima^le in their 
juft ufe. 

The final eftabliihment of Chrift's uni^ 
verfal dominion will furely come to pafs, 
in a manner perhaps as different from our 
prefent notions, as his appearance in the 
world was from the prejudices of the 
Jews. All this is in the hands of that 
fame Providence, which hath hitherto fo 
evidently dire6led the progrefs of the 
great fcheme ; and our only care ftiould be, 
that at the laft, inftead of being found 
unbelieving, negligent, and unworthy of 
the light we enjoy, we (hall be accepted 
as having " walked worthy of the 
" vocation wherewith we have beei^ 

called.^' 



From 



(jf our Lord to the Gerdiles, 

From the fubjecl of our prefent medi- 
tations, we may colled ufefal hints to 
thefe moil profitable purpofes. 

Did the Wife Men offer unto our ever- 
bleffed Lord myrrh, as unto him who 
was to offer up his own precious body as 
a facrifice incorruptible for the fms of 
men ? So let us offer up our bodies mor- 
tified from carnal and worldly lufts, pu- 
rified from the corruptions of the world, 
dead indeed unto fin, bat living unto 
rip:hteoufnefs : thus beino; buried with 
Chrifl in his death, that with hrni we 
may rife again, and through him in righ- 
teoufnefs. 

Did the Wife Men oft'er unto our ever- 
bleffed Lord gold, as unto the fovereign 
over all worldly poffeffions ? So let us 
offer unto him of our fubftance, which 
we owe unto his bounty entirely. He 
hath made thofe whom we fhall have 
always with us, that is the poor, the 
depofitaries of our tribute to him. He 
hath placed them even as himfelf before 
usj and will acknowledge in his ow^ji 
I) perfo|i 



34 Epiphany 9 or Manifeftation 

SERM. perfon what he accepts in theirs. "Verily 
"I fay uiito you, inafmuch as 3^e have 
" done it unto one of the leaft of thefe, 
my brethren, ye have done it unto 



me. 



Did the Wife Men, laftly, offer unto 
our ever-bleffed Lord frankincenfe ? Let 
us alfo offer daily before his thrope, the 
fervice of a fervent and truly pious 
heart, " Let our prayers be fet forth 
^' in his fight as the incenfe, and the 
" lifting of our hands be as an evening 
" facrifice." Wife indeed is that man, 
and he only, who is wife unto his own 
falvation ; who hath learned to account 
this body as nought, and the gratifi- 
cations of fenfe as of little value ; who 
hath efleemed the riches qf this world as 
^ftimable only as a means of laying up 
for himfelf, by their jufl application, 
treafures in heaven; who, profeffing his 
entire dependence on God, a heart-felt 
fenfe of pafl bleffings, and an humble 
but ftedfaft hope for future ones, looks 
pp to the throne of mercy for the com- 
pletioji of his happinefsj and thither ad- 

dreffes 



of our Lord to the Gentiles. 

dreflfes his confiant prayer which cometh 
not out of feigned hps. 

Lead us thereforej O Lord 5 in thy 
truth, and teach us, for thou art the 
God of our falvation, and for thy name's 
fake, " fhevv us the way that we fhould 
" walk in, when we hft up our fouls 
" unto thee/' Amen. 



D 2 SERMON 



SERMON IIL 



GOOD FRIDAY. 
ON THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST. 



Isaiah liii. 4, 5. 

Purely he hath home our Griefs^ and 
caiiried our Sorrows : yet we did ejieem 
him Jtricken, fmitten of God and af- 
ficied. 

But he was wounded for our Tranf 
grejfions ; he was bruifed for our Ini-- 
quifies : the Chaftifeinent of our Peace 

. was upon him ; and with his Stripes we 
are healed. 

The fufFerinPfs of Jefus Chrift during- sekm, 
his life, and at his death ; the contempt ^/v. 
and ignominy ^^ith \^hich thefe fufFerings 
\vere attended were fuch, as might natu- 
rally induce the worldly, the uninformed, 
D 3 or 



38 On the Criidfixion of Chrifl. 

SERM. or the unbelievinp; mind, to conclude that 
he was " ftricken, fmitten of God, and 
" afflicted " 

The manner in which thefe fa£ts are 
related by the authors of the Gofpels, is 
not fuch as betrays the leaft defign to 
elevate the chara6ter of the fufferer, by 
any reflections on the fa&s, or any com- 
mendations of that conduft, which yet is 
above all praife. 

The effeB^ which the confideration of 
them ought to produce^ muft therefore 
arife from a convifiiion of the expediency 
of fatisfaftion being made to the divine 
juftice for the fins of mankind, from a 
knowledge of the grand fcheme of mercy, 
on which depended the reconciliation be- 
tween God and man, and alfo of the 
fiate in w hich every individual muit have 
remained, without the mediation of him 
who came into the world, ^' to feek and 
" to fave that which was lofl/' 

To thofe who poffefs a well-founded 
faith in the merits of our Redeemer ; to 

thofe 



On the Cr'ucijiocion of Clirift, 

thofe who are fenfible that no fatisfaftion, 
no hope in this life would be of any value ; 
no afflifilion tolerable, and no temptation 
furmountable, if they could not look 
forward to falvation through Him, the 
contemplation of thefe things muft be of 
the higheft importance. In fuch only 
that efFe6l can reafonably be hoped for, 
which will be ftiewn in repentance, in 
improvement in all Chriftian virtues, in 
the increafe of piety, even in an age 
when it is fo nearly forgotten, that thofe 
who profefs it are fufpeCted of infmcerity. 
From fuch, however, I may, without pre- 
fumption^ expefil their ulbal attention^ 
while I lay before them^ in explaining the 
text I have chofen, firft the cmcfes, and 
afterwards the end and effeB of the for- 
rows and bitter punifhment, which the 
Son of God voluntarily underwent. 

But, before I proceed farther, I in- 
treat every one of you in particular, that 
he will confider what I am now to fay, 
as if it were fpoken to himfelf efpecially; 
that he will refleSl upon his own in te reft 
in what flnall be laid before him, and join 
D 4 his 



iO On the Crucifixion of Chri/h 

SERM. bis earneft endeavours to mine to iti^ 
s^-v^ veftigate how deeply he is concerned in 
the redemption efiefted for him, as far as 
^ve are capable of confidering that fub« 
lime myftery of our redemption, into 
^vhich the angels themfelves are defirous 
to look, the tranfcendent excellence of 
which is ineitimable. 

If the words now to be uttered to you 
could correfpond with the fubjecb tha^ 
calls for your attention ; if the impreffion 
upon you could be fo lively and fo per- 
manent, that from this hour you flbould 
enter into fuch a practice of uniform 
piety, as would endure to the end of 
your lives, this hour would be the be- 
ginning of your continually increafing 
happinefs, and. even the unworthy labourer 
in Chrift's harvefi for your fakes might 
hope to approach his Lord with joy, 
" bringing his fheaves with him J' 

The ^Vy? part cf my text exprejfes the 
canfe of the fufferings of Jefiis Chriji ; 

He was wounded for our tranfgreffions > 
" he was bruifed for our iniquities.'' 

In 



On the Crucijiiion of CkriJI^- 41 

In treating this point, I enter not at serm, 
pre fen t^ upon the original fall and fub- 
fequent depravity of man in general, nor 
on the confideration how odious the whole 
finful race became in the eyes of the 
God of purity ; I wifli rather to dire6l 
the refle6iions of every one of you. inward 
to his own confcience^ that he may dif- 
Gover his own hnfulnefs ; I wiih to dif- 
cover to every one the odioufnefs and 
malignity of fin, that he may feel his 
neceffity of the divine phyfician of our 
fouls ; I wiili to convince every one of 
this great truth, that his ftate muft yet 
become defperate, unlefs he implores the 
aid of Chrift, and faithfully ufes the 
remedies he prefcribes. 

Let us firft of all confider the thouo^hts 
of our hearts, and, if poffible, for a mo- 
ment banifli that pride, which brings forth 
fo large a portion of them, while we 
examine ourfelves. How many of thefe 
are engroffed by felfifli gratification, and 
how very few are devoted to God ! We are 
always propofing to ourfelves that we will 
fatisfy this inclination , we Ynll indulge 

this 



On the Crucifiiion of Clirijii 

this defire, that we will enjoy this plea-^ 
lure, that we will fectire this advantage^ 
or that we will acquire this honour* 
Thefe refolutions are taken entirely in 
obedience to our natural propenfities, or 
according to the immediate fuggeftions of 
appetite ; and, if a confideration of duty 
countera6ls any one of them, it is either 
expelled as an unwelcome intruder^ or 
the fophiftry of felf-delufion is called in 
to reconcile it with its direft oppofite* 
Even the malignant paflionSj thofe de- 
formities and ftains which now difguife 
the facred image in which we were origi-^ 
nally created, often not only exift in u^ 
without exciting our horror, but feduce 
us into compliance with their deftrufilive 
extravagancies, as if the mifery of others 
who have offended us, could conftitute 
Our happinefse So fruitful in viciou;^ 
thoughts is the mind of man, that^ like 
weeds, the natural produce of the foil^ 
they fpring up under the very hand that 
is rooting them out» 

As to our very beft purpofes, how im- 
perfeft, how mixt, how debafed with 

inferior 



On the Crucifixion of Chri/i, 43. 

inferior and unworthy principles they se^rm, 
generally are ! So much fo that pure 
difintereftednefs is an object of ridicule 
with thofe who are proud of their know- 
ledge of the world, and every virtue that 
men practife, even on the moft elevated 
principle, is fufpected by them of having 
fome latent origin of an abjeft and felfifh 
nature. That the divine grace acting 
upon us doth fometimes enable us to 
foar above the degeneracy of our nature, 
cannot neverthelefs be doubted, but the 
cenfure we pafs upon the conduft of 
others generally arifes from the confci- 
oufnefs of our own propenfity to evil, 
from which we conclude haftily, that 
others are not more exempt. So jult is 
the character given of fallen man by 
Mofes, that " every imagination of the 
" thoughts of his heart was only evil 
" continually/^ So juft will it be proved 
in that day, when the Lord fhall " bring 
" to light the hidden things of darknefs, 
*' and make manifefl the counfels of the 
hearts/^ 



Let 



On the Crucifijcion of Chriji: 

Let us condder alfo, that every idle 
word that men flidl have fpoken, they 
fiiall give an account thereof, (Chrift hath 
declared it) in that dreadful day of judg- 
ment. And where is he who hath put 
a curb upon his tongue., and reftrained 
it within the bounds of wifdom or of 
juftice ? Could we bear the repetition of 
many idle and trifling expreffions, of our 
harfh and hafty extravagancies of fpeechj 
of our finful and rebellious murmurs^ 
(even againft the Giver of all we enjoy) 
if they were now called to our remem- 
brance ? Thefe indulgencies of paffion 
have been fo many w^ounds inflifted on 
our own fouls, and aim oft every pa^ffion 
has been an inftrument of inflifting them» 
The folly and careleffnefs, the lufts of 
youth, the pride and ambition of mature 
age, and the repining fretfulnefs of a 
more advanced period, contribute each its 
fliare, to heap up this meafure of folly 
and iniquity. For " the tongue no man 

can tame/' faith St^ James, " it is an 
" unruly evil, full of deadly poifon. 

Therewith blefs we God even the 

" Father, 



On the Crucifiixion of Chrifi. 

^ Father, and therewith curfe we men 
which are made after the fmiihtude of 
>^ God/^ Surely our own fpeeches alone 
would condemn us, if their witnefs agamft 
us fhould prevail. 

With refpeft to actions, where is he, 
who having done that only which is 
lawful and right, can fave his own foul 
alive ? Alas ! we have each of us ' left 
^ undone thofe thing;s which we ou^ht to 
' have done, and we have done thofe 
^ things which we ought not to have 
^ done, and there is no health in u.s/ 
If he, who will not freely own this, could 
behold the hiftory of every day of his 
life, faithfully b rousfht before his recol- 
lection, how many actions would he wifh 
to expunge from the record, how many 
would he ardently defire to confign to 
eternal oblivion ! ^Yhen the temptation 
and the indulgence are no more the of- 
fence yet remaineth, and cool reafon 
determine th that to be an objeft of hor- 
ror, which in the hour of trial affumed 
an appearance of pleafantnefs. We may 
have willingly forgotten the enormities 



On the Crucifixion of Chrifi, 

into which we have been betrayed, much 
more thofe we have committed dehbe- 
rately, ftill more thofe we have prelum ed 
to perpetrate prefumptuoufly, and with a 
rebellious heart ; but, they are regiftered 
before Him, to whom the paft, the pre- 
fent, and the future are equally known ; 
and the deformities of our conduft, though 
they efcape our attention and our me- 
mory, are neither buried from his fight 
in the flood of time, nor lofl in the fliades 
of oblivion. 

How, therefore, muft each of the de- 
generate fons of Adam appear in the 
fight of the God of purity ? The anfwer 
is found in the prophecy of Ifaiah ; 
wherein he faith, the whole head is 
" lick, and the whole heart faint. From 
" the fole of the foot even unto the head 
" there is no foundnefs in it ; but wounds, 
" and bruifes, and putrifying fores/'' And 
fuch would have continued the ftate of 
every one of us in the light of God, my 
beloved brethren, infuring wrath and 
eternal punilhment, had not Chrift been 

wounded for our tranfgreffions/' had 



On the Crucijiiuon of Chrijl. 

he not been " bruifed for our iniqui- s 
" ties/' 

I now go on to fliew you, that his 
fufFerings were efFeclual to the accomphfii- 
ment of the purpofe of his moft tender 
love towards man, for " the chaftifement 

of our peace was upon him/' 

And now I appeal to every one of you, 
" whofe confcience is not," as the Apoftle 
fays, " feared with an hot iron,'' and afk, 
what peace could exift in your minds at 
this moment, if Chrift had not made this 
atonement for you ? Your condemnation 
would not {lumber; vengeance would 
foon feize its viflim, and the gates of 
defpair would in a fliort fpace be fliut for 
ever upon you. Under fuch apprehen- 
{lons as thefe, where would your minds 
find reft ? Could any of the delights of 
this world footh your fears, or tranfitory 
gratifications remove the conftant dread 
of eternal woe ? Heaven, the laft refuge 
of diftrefs, would have been Ihut againft 
you, and the children of wrath would 
have nothing elfe but " a fearful looking- 

" for 



On the' Crucifixion of Chrift, 

" for of j.adgment, ready to be revealed/' 
But the Son of God having taken upon 
himfelf your chaftifement, peace is yours, 
|3ecaufe hope is reftored to you, the hope, 
not only of pardon, but of immortality, 
of a joint inheritance with him, and of 
the eternal love of God reconciled to 'his 
creatures. For " by his ftripes we are 
" healed all the odious and mortal dif- 
eafes of our fouls are done awaj^, a full 
atonement is made for our offences, and 
" though our fins were as fcarlet, they 
are made white as fnow, though they 
" be red like crimfon^ they lhall be as 
" wool.'' Such is the effeft of that in- 
nocent blood which was fhed, fuch is the 
redemption atchieved for us by the Lamb 
that was flain, by him who continually 
intercedeth even for thofe who are moft 
hard to be drawn to him, being willing 
that not one Ihould perifh, but that all 
fliould be converted and live. 

In endeavouring earneftly to make every 
one of you more deeply affefted by the 
infinite love of Chrift Jefus towards you, 
I perceive that I fink beneath the fubjeft, 



On the CrucifiTion of Chrift, 
and want words to utter thofe feotiments 
that oaght to be impreffed upon your 
minds ; and indeed the full efFefts of his 
divine love can never be known, till re- 
pentant man fhall be elevated to the 
participation of thofe inexpreffible joys, 
which are purchafed for him with an in- 
eftimable price. 

But I muft conjure as many of you as 
look with hope tov/ards them, as many 
of you as would not draw down upon 
themfelves the mifery and the puniflmient 
of having made Chrift's fufferings vain for 
themfelves, that they would not feparate 
themfelves from their divine Mafter, by 
neglefting any of his commands, and 
efpecially his dying command of partaking 
in the holy facrament of his bleffed body 
Bnd blood. What will they anfwer him 
in the day when he fhall fay unto them. 
Many grievous things did I fufter for 
your fakes, and I required no other re- 
turn than a fervice of perfefl freedom at 
your hands, and a compliance with my 
dying requeft, that you would for your 
own fakes unite yourfelves with me, and 
E with 



50 On the Crticifismi of Chrijl, 

s E R M. with each other, in a communion of love ? 
Why have ye perlifted, though repeatedly 
called upon, to refufe me thefe tokens of 
your gratitude ? Why have ye thus en- 
deavoured by difobedience to fruftrate the 
defigns of my love towards you ? Why 
have ye diflionoured and fet at nought 
the inftitution I left as a pledge of it? 
There will be no excufe for thefe things ; 
there will be " no more facrifice for lins/^ 
and God, " who fpared not his own be- 
^' loved Son,"' will not then fpare the 
obftinate linner. 

If thefe confiderations go to the con- 
fcience of any one prefent, if he will 
refle6t that the enquiry I have juft men- 
tioned as future, is coming upon him with 
a rapid pace, and in a fliort time will 
overtake him, when it will be too late 
to look back and to repent; what can 
that prejudice of mind be, which he will 
continue to nourilh, like a viper hidden 
in his bofom, till it fhall poifon all his 
peace ! Let him take care that he is not 
deluded to his deftruftion by that wicked 
tempter, who, having difcovered his weak- 

nefs, 



On the Criicijlxion of Chrijf. 51 

nefs, avails himfelf of it to accomplifh serm. 
his utter ruin. Let him determine whe- 
ther he fhould conceal that now from 
himfelf, which in a fhort time muft be 
revealed before God and angels and 
men; and let him refolve to make an 
efifort to throw away that burthen of fins, 
which, as it keeps him back from God, 
muft be grievous for him to bear. Let 
him, in ftiort, obey the invitation of Chrift 
Jefus, " Come unto me all ye that are 

heavy laden, and I will give vou 

reft," 

Think not, O my beloved brethren, 
your fervant in the Lord is now pleading 
againft you, but interceding Vvith you for 
your foul's firft interefts, and I do no other 
than join my voice to the reprefentations 
of your own confciences, and the call of 
the Holy Spirit of God. Each of you 
who will refolve not to refift them will 
begin from this day a courfe of increafmg 
happinefs, the commencement of which 
will ever be remembered with the pureft 
delight of reflection. His foul, being 
ftrengthened and refrelhed by the body 
E 2 and 



On the Cnicijixion of Chrijl, 

and blood of our crucified Saviour, will 
be enabled to contend more powerfully, 
and, with God's help, to fubdue effeclually 
the moft formidable temptations of Jin. 
Let him complete therefore with us the 
commemoration of Chrift's death, in the 
manner chofen by Chrift himfelf; and 
drawing near to him with a penitent heart, 
with faith in God's mercies through him, 
with gratitude for Chrift's fufiferings, and 
in fincere love to him, and towards all 
mankind for whom he died, let him fted- 
faftly rely on the manifold and abundant 
mercies of God, for the acceptance of 
his facrifice of praife and thankfgiving. 



SERMON 



SERMON 



IV. 



EASTER DAY: 

OR THE RESURRECTION OF OUR 
BLESSED SAVIOUR. 



1 Corinth, xv. 17- 

If Chriji be not raifed^ your Faith is vaiuy 
ye are yet in your Sins, 

St. JOHN the Baptift, having given serm. 
an anfwer to thofe whom the Jews had 
fent to enquire who he was, the next day- 
feeing Jefiis coming unto him, thus de- 
clared him unto the people, " Behold 
the Lamb of God which taketh away 
the fin of the world/' That is to faj, 
the innocent perfon, whofe fufiferings w ere 
not only clearly foretold in ancient pro- 
phecy, and typified by ancient facrifices, 
efpecially of the Mofaical law^ ; but ' who 
E 3 ^ by 



On Eajier Dai/. 

' by his own oblation of himfelf once of» 
' fered, would make a full, perfeft, and 
' fufficient facrifice, oblation, and fatisfac- 
^ tion, for the fins of the world/ Our 
bleffed Saviour frequently declared to his 
Difciples, that " he muft fuffer many 
" things, and ftiould be killed, and would 
" rife again the third day/' 

The former of thefe declarations, as to 
his fufferings, was fhocking to their af- 
feflion to their Lord and Mafter, and 
deftru6live of their expeftations of an 
earthly kingdom ; the other, was little 
comprehended by them when they heard 
it. " They kept/' faith St. Mark, that 
" faying with themfelves, queftioning one 
" with another what the rifing of the 
" dead fliould mean.'' And in this ig- 
norance they continued even when Chrift 
was aftually rifen, till they had received 
the moft convincing teftimony of this fa6l, 
" for as yet,'' faith St. John, fpeaking 
of himfelf and St. Peter, " they knew 
" not the Scripture, that he muft rife 

again from the dead/' 



This 



On Eafter Day. 

This event, however, was that on which 
our bleffed Lord feems principally to have 
refted the credit of his pretenfions. " He 
" charged his Difciples, that they fliould 

tell no man that he was Jefus the 
" Chrift and as they came down from 
the mountain, after his transfiguration, 
" he charged them that they fcould tell 
" no man what things they had feen, till 
" the Son of Man were rifen from the 
" dead/' The proofs, therefore, of the 
reality of the event were, as they ought 
to be, ftrong in proportion to its impor- 
tance. 

Firft of all, thofe, who in future times 
were to be principal witneffes of it to the 
world, were very flow in believing the 
faft themfelves. They perceived not that 
it was foretold by the prophets. Our 
Lord reproached the two Difciples with 
this, whom he joined as they went to 
Emmaus. " Ought not,'' faid he, " Chrifl: 

to have fuffered thefe things, and to 
" enter into his glory ? And beginning 
" at Mofes and all the prophets, he ex- 
E 4 pounded 



On Eajier Day, 

" pounded to them, in all the Scriptures^ 
^' the things concerning himfelf/' 

Nothing can exceed the fcrupulous ex- 
amination by which the other Difciples, 
efpecially St. Thomas, refolved to enquire 
into the truth of his being alive. No 
doubt it was an event moft defirable to 
them ; but it feemed to them fo exceed- 
ingly improbable, if not impoffible, that 
they could not bring themfelves to be- 
heve it without the ftrongeft teftimony 
of their fenfes. Now if, as was charged 
againft them, they had confpired together 
in the fupport of an impofture ; if, after 
having fiolen the body of Jefus by night, 
they had agreed to fay he is rifen again, 
can it be fuppofed they would have con- 
duced themfelves after this manner ? 
Quite the contrary. They would have 
faid. Our Mafter always foretold, that he 
w^ould rife again. We always believed it. 
We faw him., when we were together, 
after he was rifen, and we were not afto- 
niflied at his appearance. Thus, in all 
probability, the teftimony would have 

depended 



On Eajler Day. 

depended on the word of the eleven only, 
and they would fcarcely have ventured 
to ftate, that he had appeared more than 
once, left they fhould expofe their ac- 
count to detefilion. 

But how widely this differs from the 
true ftate of the cafe ! We have not only 
a variety, but a great number of wit- 
neffes to the Refurre6tion of Chrift. Firft 
of all, the angels who appeared to the 
Roman foldiers, to the other Mary and 
Salome, to Mary Magdalene, and to 
Joanna ; which appearances w^ere four in 
number at different times. At the firft 
of thefe, the angel thus gives his tefti- 
mony, faying to the women, " Be not 
" affrighted ; ye feek Jefus of Nazareth, 
" which was crucified; he is rifen, he is 
" not here. Behold the place where 
" they laid him. But go your way, tell 
" his Difciples, and Peter, that he goeth 
" before you into Galilee ; there fhall ye 
" fee him, as he faid unto you/' 

Secondly, the very enemies of Chrift, 
the affembly of the Priefts and Elders, 

have 



On Eajier Day. 

have given, againft their will, an indirect 
teftimon}^ of the truth of his refurreftion. 
The guard having told them of the vifion 
they had feen, and all the circumftances 
attending it, they had no other refource 
than putting into their mouths a ftory 
■which carries its own abfurdity on the 
very face of it, implying that thefe poor 
fifhermen Ihould have dared to attempt 
ftealing a body guarded by Rom.an fol- 
diers, that they had rolled away the 
ftone, unbound the body, difpofed of the 
grave-cloaths in order, and actually car- 
ried the body away, the whole guard 
being all this time afleep. 

Thirdly, the appearances of Chrift 
after his refurrection w^ere very numerous 
and frequent. Thus he appeared firft to 
Mary Magdalene, then to the other 
women ; to the two Difciples as they 
went into the country ; to the eleven and 
others with them, to whom he fliewed 
his hands and his feet, and did eat before 
them ; eight days after to the Difciples, 
when St. Thomas was with them, and 
when our Lord bid him " reach hither 

" his 



On Eajier Day. 

" his finger, and behold his hands, and 
" reach hither his hand and thruft it into 
" his fide, that he might be no longer 
" faithlefs but believing/' Our Lord 
appeared alfo to Simon, to the Difciples 
at the fea of Tiberias, to the eleven on 
a mountain in Galilee. To the Apofl;les 
" he fliewed himfelf alive after his paffion, 
" by many infallible proofs, being feen 
" of them forty days, and fpeaking of 
" the things pertaining unto the kingdom 
" of God;'' and St. Paul tells us, that 
" he was feen of above five hundred 
brethren at once," the greater part of 
whom were living when he wrote his firft 
epiftle to the Corinthians, twenty-feven 
years after the event. 

I thought it expedient to premife thefe 
things, before I fully entered on St. 
Paul's argument; but, I muft here re- 
mark further, that the Gofpel of St. John, 
in the clofe of which fo many circum- 
ftances of Chrift's refurreflion are related, 
was written about the year 96, at leaft 
thirty-fix years after St. Pauls firft epiftle 
to the church of Corinth, that is, at leaft 

fixty- 



On Eajiev Day. 

fixty-three years after the event itfelf, in 
which time the behef of it would have 
been exploded, if any doubt could have 
been entertained of the reality of fo very 
extraordinary a tranfaclion. 

Now St. Paul, urging fome of the 
proofs of the reality of Chrift's refurrec- 
tion to the Difciples of Corinth, and 
appealing to their own acknowledgment 
of their validity, faying, " fo we preach, 

and fo ye believed,"" argues from thence 
to prove the certainty of the future re- 
furreflion of all men againft certain per- 
fons, who, even in that early age of 
Chriftianity, clifputed againft that doc- 
trine. " If there be no refurreftion from 
" the dead,'' that is, if fuch a thing be 
impoffible, then, notwithftanding thefe fuf- 
ficient proofs of the faft, " Chrift is not 
" rifen, our preaching," fays the Apoftle, 
" is vain, your faith is alfo vain, yea we 
" are found falfe witneiTes of God ; be- 
" caufe we have teftified of God that he 
" raifed up Chrift: whom he raifed not 
" up, if fo be that the dead rife not."" 
And he concludes, that on fuch princi- 
ples, 



On EaJler Bay. 61 
pies, " their faith'' in the atonement niuft se^rm. 
be " vain, and they yet in their fins f 
that all thofe who are departed have pe- 
rifhed; that he himfelf, and all others 
who profeffed and taught the faith of 
Chrift, having " hope in him in this life 
only, muft be of all men moft mife- 
" rable/' 

Now it ftiould be remembered, as I have 
remarked, that this firft epiftle to the 
Corinthians, was written not more than 
twenty-feven years after the event of 
Chrift's refurreftion ; and therefore, that 
there is the higheft degree of probability, 
that the greater part of the five hundred 
brethren, who had feen our Lord at the 
fame time after his refurreftion, were 
really ftill living, and might be applied 
to, as fufficient witneffes of that faft. 
They were alfo the fitteft witneffes of it. 
They had no worldly intereft to anfwer, 
which might tempt them to agree in 
maintaining it, if it had been falfe. If 
they wilhed it to be true, it was from the 
hope it was to afford them in a better 
life ; a hope which was founded not only 

upon 



62 On Eajier Day. 

SEUM. upon the belief of that or any other fad 
\^v^ concerning Jefus, but on their fidehty to 
him, their Matter and Redeemer, their 
perfeverance in preaching his Gofpel, 
which was to be fupported againft all the 
contradifition of worldly wifdom, and the 
authority and even tyranny of worldly 
power. 

Nothing indeed can be more abfurd, 
than to imagine that fo many fhould agree 
to deceive themfelves, for no other pur- 
pofe than that of deceiving others ; that 
they fhould draw down upon their own 
heads all the fufFerings of perfecution, to 
fupport an impofture, which muft be de- 
tefted and exploded foon after they were 
dead ; and alfo, as the Apoftle urges, (if 
Chrift s refurreftion, and the future refur- 
reftion of mankind, were equally untrue,) 
after they muft have perifhed. 

But it may be faid. If there was fuch 
teftimony to be appealed to in proof of 
the refurreftion of Chrift, and in fupport 
of its efFeft and confequences, bow can 
we fuppofe, that fuch a fchifm as is men- 
tioned 



On Eajler Day. 63 

tioned by the Apoftle could arife in the serm. 
Corinthian church ? How can we ima- 
gine that any would be fo bold as to 
maintain doftrines of a dire6lly oppofite 
tenor ? To account for the extravagancies 
of human folly, or even to imagine the 
enormities of human wickednefs, is no 
very eafy undertaking; but, let us re- 
member that this is no more than the 
divine author of our religion had pre- 
difted. He foretold the fafl, in thefe 
warning expreflions : " Beware of falfe 
" prophets, which come to you in fheep'^s 
" clothing, but inwardly they are raven- 
" ing wolves/' And, if we want a com- 
ment on this remarkable paffage, we can- 
not have a better than that in St. Paul's 
fpeech to the elders of the church of 
Ephefus, " I know this, that after my 
" departing {hall grievous wolves enter in 
among you, not fparing the flock. 
" Alfo of your own felves (hall men arife, 
fpeaking perverfe things, to draw away 
" difciples after them 

* A^s XX. 29, 30, 



You 



On Eajier Day. 

You have here fully developed the 
motive which prompted the Schifmatics 
to this deceit. In the hiftories of the 
early herefies, we are taught how the 
authors of them, " through covetoufnefs 
" with feigned words, made merchandize 
" of the people^/' as St. Peter foretold. 
This was the obje6l of Simon Magus, 
who impioufly applied to the holy Apof- 
tles, to purchafe from them the gifts and 
powers of the Holy Spirit, and we know 
that the fe6i of which he was the author, 
and many, befides that, not only inter- 
mixed falfe dofiirines with their pretended 
creeds, but in order to gain the attach- 
ment and fupport of worldly men, coun- 
tenanced them in the praftice of every 
vice, to which their paffions excited 
them ; thus rendering their pretended 
Chriftianity an inft rumen t in the hands 
of the profligate unbeliever, wherewith 
he might fubdue, to the gratification of 
his ambition or his lufts, the weak and 
unfufpe6ting. 

* 2 Pet. ii. 3. 



Now 



On Eqfter Day. 

Now the belief of Chrift s refurreftion, 
and of our own which is infeparably 
connefted with it, was felt to be moft 
inconvenient to the accomplifhment of 
the defigns of fuch men. It is felt 
to be very much fo, by all thofe who 
in our days abandon themfelves to li- 
bertinifm of any fort. That their 
thoughts, their defigns, their falfe words 
and lhameful aflions, Ihould all one 
day be expofed and brought into judg- 
ment, is a profpeft they cannot en» 
dure. They ufe, therefore, every exertion 
of fophiflry, to banifli fuch an opinion 
from their own minds; and what is 
ftill worfe, if they cannot entirely quiet 
their own apprehenfions, labour inde- 
fatigably to ftifle them in the minds of 
thofe, whom they want to betray into 
a participation of their vices, or to facri- 
fice to their own lufts. Hence it comes 
to pafs, that as long as there are in the 
world vicious men, the falfe do6lrine, 
that death is no more than an eternal 
fleep, will never want defenders, whofe 
ob^inate perfeverance in preaching this 
F falfehood. 



On Eajier Dinj, 

falfehood, it will be our conftant duty to 
refift. 

God forbid, that we fliould ever ceafe 
to cherilli, both in ourfelves and in you, 
that " lively hope" to which " the God 
" and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift/' 
(bleffed be his holy name) " hath, accord- 
" ing to his abundant mercy, begotten us 
" again, by the refurreftion of Jefus 
" Chrift from the dead/^ or by our neg- 
le6l of your inftruftion, admonition, and 
encouragement in all godlinefs, hazard 
that ^' inheritance incorruptible and un- 

defiled, and that fadeth not away, 
*^ which is referved in heaven for thofe, 
" who are kept by the power of God 

through faith unto falvation, ready to 

be revealed in the laft time/" 

There are, I hope and truft, many 
among you, whofe confciences witneffmg 
for them their patience under trials, their 
conqueft over temptations, their repent- 
ance of paft fins, and their improvements 
in virtue, give them an earnefl of the 

inexpreffible 



On Eajter Day. 

inexpreffible felicity of their future ac- 
ceptance. There are, I am fure, fome, 
who, if they could be deprived of this 
ineftimable hope, would be unable to 
withftand the difficulties, or perfevere in 
the indifpenfabie duties of our pilgrimage. 
Thefe muft fee the expediency of " hold- 
ing faft their faith without wavering.''' 
They will not lightly abandon that an- 
chor of their fouls, they will endeavour 
to " enter into that which is within the 
veil, whither the forerunner is gone 
before^ even Jefus, made an High 
" Prieft for ever after the order of Mel- 
" chifedec/' 

But, I muft warn the young, who are 
too apt to confider thefe things at a great 
diftance, I muft warn them againft -a 
world, which is always offering them its 
prefent, but deceitful and tranlient de- 
lights, that they may purchafe them at 
the expence of peace of mind, and fu- 
ture glories. I muft warn them againft 
thofe, who would perfuade them to live, 
as they call it, now, that is to live in the 
r 2 indulgence 



On Eajier Day. 

indulgence of every appetite, void of all 
apprehenfion of eternal death. I muft 
warn them againft thofe, who would lay 
their confciences afleep, that their paffions 
may be free from controul, endeavouring 
to perfuade them that that fleeping lion 
never can be roufed, that no worm exifts 
which never dieth, nor fire which never 
ftiall be quenched. I muft exhort them 
earneftly, when tempted by fuch vile 
feducers, to compare the fure promifes of 
him who " died for their fins, and rofe 
^' again for their juftification/' with the 
fordid bribes which are now offered 
them to betray them to feal their own 
ruin. 

And, to fum up the whole in words 
diftated by the Holy Spirit of God, 
words, the truth of which flhall ftand 
confeft, when the period of tliis earth's 
exiftence ftiall be come, and both it and 
the heavens fhall pafs away, let them 
never lofe fight of this prophetic decla- 
ration : " Many of them that fleep in 
" the duft lhall awake, fome to everlaft- 

ing 



On Eajier Day. 

" ing life, and fome to fliame and ever- 
" lafting contempt. And they that be 
" wife fhall ftiine as the brightnefs of the 
" firmament; and they that turn many 
" to righteoufnefsj as the ftars for ever 
" and ever/' 



p 3 SERMON 



SERMON V. 



WHIT-SUNDAY : 

OR, THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY 
GHOST. 



John xiv. 26, 

The Comforter^ which is the Holy Ghqft^ 
whom the Father will fend in my Namey 
he Jliall teach you all Things^ and bring 
all Things to your Reme??ihrance^ what- 
Joever I have /aid unto you. 

The fubje6i which demands our at- 
tention this day, my beloved brethren, 
is the accomphfliment of the ineftimable 
promife of our bleffed Lord, contained 
in the words I have juft laid before you. 
I ftiall (hew you, in this difcourfe, the 
neceffity which exifted that this great 
r 4 event 



72 071 miUSunday. 

SERM. event ftiould take place, and fuggeft to 
3^ou fome of the excellent benefits we 
derive from thence ; your gratitude will, 
it is to be hoped, be powerfully excited 
towards our heavenly Father, for his in- 
eftimable goodnefs to the fons of men, 
and you will be animated to a careful, 
an uninterrupted, and diligent difcharge 
of Chriftian duties, fo long as, by his 
gracious permiffion, you ihall remain in 
this ftate of trial. 

It was fuflScient indeed, that the righ- 
teous Jefus had given his word, that the 
accompli{hment of any of his promifes 
Ihould follow. Thofe who had been eye- 
witneffes of the purity, and innocence of 
his life ; whofe fouls had been refrefhed by 
the hving ftreams of his do6lrine ; who 
had been wonderfully convinced of its 
divine truth, by the ftupendous miracles 
which were wrought in its fupport ; thefe 
men, I fay, had no room to doubt, but 
that whatever his lips had foretold, would 
happen according to his prediftion. 



When 



0?i Whit'Sunday. 

When the Sariour of mankind was s 
received up into glory, the charge of 
preaching his Gofpel to the world de- 
volved to men, naturally liable to the 
fame errors, and infirmities, as thofe whom 
they were to inftruft* Had they been 
left to the direftion of their own imagi- 
nations, and to the imperfefl: determina- 
tions of their own underftandings, though 
perfe6lly honeft in their intentions, they 
would have difagreed upon fome very ef- 
fential points ; and a fyftem of religion, the 
fupporters of which would only have been 
under the guidance of human reafon, 
muft have been a mafs of confufion, 
through their involuntary miftakes, inftead 
of affording the wifeft rules for the go- 
vernment and condu6l of mankind. It 
was, indeed, far above the power of 
human ability to eftablilh the church of 
Chrift, in fuch a manner as fhould cor- 
refpond with the gracious defign of Pro- 
vidence, for the infinite advantage of all 
the world. Immediate infpiration could 
alone direft thefe firfl labourers, how to 
lay that immoveable foundation, on which 

this 



On WhitSunday. 

this glorious edifice is fupported, in fucb 
ftrength, " that the gates of hell llrall 
" never prevail againft it/^ 

Had the writings of the Holy Apoftles 
been diftated by human wifdom alone, 
they would have been replete with infur- 
mountable inconfiftencies, we fliould by 
no means difcover that harmony in them 
which we fo juftly admire, but inftead of 
abounding in' all the dignity, and fimpli- 
city of truth, in plain precepts and whole- 
fome admonitions, they would have been 
no more than colleflions of the different 
opinions of different men. They might 
have been decked out, perhaps, in all the 
pomp of eloquence, but this is calculated 
rather to hide defe6is, than to difcover the 
real beauty of truth. 

Now whoever perufes the Apoftolic 
writings, perceives, (unlefs he obftinately 
clofes his eyes againft the light,) that they 
muft have been dilated by that eternal 
Spirit whofe thoughts cannot be imitated 
by the Hmited conceptions of any finite 

and 



OnWiiUSunday. 75 

and erroneous Being. Moreover, it was serm. 
neceflary, in purfuance of that benevolent 
plan, which comprehended the happinefs 
of all the nations of the earth, that the 
Gofpel fhould be foon preached to every- 
one of them : but how could this have 
been efFefted by men, who were unac- 
quainted with their languages, the acqui- 
fition of all which was far beyond the 
power of human intelleft ? Add to this, 
that the Apoftles would have been utterly 
at a lofs, what to anfwer for themfelves in 
many hours of diftrefs, and of perfecution,, 
unlefs it had been given them from above, 
what they ftiould fpeak. Thefe, other- 
wife infuperable difficulties, were effec- 
tually obviated by the aid of immediate 
infpiration. The wonderful rapidity, with 
which the Gofpel fpread itfelf through 
the known world, was the glorious effeCl 
of this gift of God. 

Well might the multitude come toge- 
ther at its firft publication by the Apoftles, 
and be confounded, when every man 
heard them fpeak in his own language ; 

well 



76 On Whit'Sunday. 

SERM. well might they be amazed, and marvel^ 
and fay to one another, " Behold, are not 
" all thefe that fpeak Galileans ? how then 
hear we every man in our own language, 
" wherein we were born This conftant 
miracle was a wonderful proof of the 
divine origin of that doftrine, which thefe 
perfons (who were before illiterate) pub- 
lifhed and maintained. But befides this 
power of languages, they received, we 
know, from the Holy Spirit, the power of 
xvorking wonders of various kinds ; which 
they did, not after the manner of cheats 
and impoftors, by deceiving the fenfes, 
mifleading the imaginations, or impofing 
upon the underftandings of the fpe6lators ; 
not to promote any private views of their 
own, whether of interelt or ambition, in 
defence of ufurpers^ or to inflame popular^ 
diffenjions; but in the moft public man- 
ner, without fraud or deceit, with difinter- 
eftednefs and opennefs, for the benefit of 
all who faw them, to promote peace and 
love among men, and evidently to their 
own temporal difadvantage and deltruc- 
lion. 



On JVhit'Sunday. 

If thefe men had been carrying on a s 
contrivance for their own private emolu- 
ment, would they not have exerted thofe 
miraculous powers wholly and folely to 
that end ? But they knew very well the 
fole purpofe for w^hich they were intrufted 
with them ; they knew very well that 
God, who cannot lye, w^ould not fuffer 
thefe his gifts to be proftituted to fo bafe, 
and iniquitous a purpofe, if they them- 
felves could poflibly have entertained one 
moment fo impious an idea. We there- 
fore fee men, who had even raifed the 
dead to life, patiently and cheerfully fub- 
mitting to pain, and to death, for the 
Lord's fake ; hence it is plain, that this 
world was no longer their objeft, they 
fought for their reward in a better. 

Compare now this their conduft with 
that of the authors of thofe falfe reli- 
gions, which have been permitted by 
God, to punifh the wickednefs, and hard- 
heartednefs of men. To elevate themfelves 
into rulers ; to promote their own happi- 
nefs at the expence of mankind ; to en- 
clave 



Oil Whit-Sunday, 

flave the minds, and bodies of men ; to 
propagate their dofilrines by fire and 
fword ; to diffolve the very firft principles 
of moral duty, and to fubftitute in their 
place fuch as contribute moil to the exe- 
cution of their own interefted defigns^ 
upon the happinefs of their deluded fol- 
lowers ; has been invariably the line of 
condu6l by which fuch impoftors have 
been direfited. 

Mahomet, whofe doclrine has fo long 
deceived the eaftern world, gives an in- 
difputable proof of the truth of thefe 
affertions; and the Anti-chriftian power 
of the Roman church, which hath im- 
pioufly wrefted to its own ends the word 
of God, to eftablilh upon earth a fpiritual 
tyranny, diametrically oppofite to that 
glorious freedom derived from the Gof- 
pel. The former of thefe, knowing that 
the working of miracles was far beyond 
his ability, affefted to defpife and depre- 
ciate the power, of which he was not 
poffeffed; the latter, indeed, hath pre- 
tended to miracles, with every fign of 

impofition 



Oil JVhit-Sunday, 

impofition and deceit; veiled in an arti- s 
ficial gloom ; at an awful and fecure 
diftance from the fpefilator, who was for- 
bidden to make ufe of his fenfes, or to 
exert that judgment in thefe ejfential 
points^ which he was left free to exercife 
in the lefs common concerns of life. 

Real miracles are evidently effefls of 
fupernatural powers, derived from Him 
alone, who is able to beftow them ; and 
who, as he abhorreth a lie, will give his 
fanftion to nothing, but what is really 
worthy of himfelf. That this fanfition 
ftiould be given to the difpenfation of the 
Gofpel, was abfolutely neceffary ; it was 
highly agreeable to all our ideas of a 
benevolent God, that he fhould give 
men the moft ftriking demonftration of 
the reality of truths, in which they were 
fo deeply concerned: Accordingly, thro' 
the operation of the Holy Spirit, the 
laws of Nature were in many inftances 
fufpended, to eftablifti the truth of the 
revelation of the God of Nature's will; 
and belief was thus rendered as unavoid- 
able 



On Whit'Sunday. 

M able to man, as is confiftent with free 
agency. 

We have thus all the proofs of the 
truth of revelation, which are compatible 
with the exertion of our faith; and our 
faith is undoubtedly as ftrongly founded 
in thefe points, as it is in any which 
prophane hiftory has preferved of the 
annals of the world. 

But it may be afked. Why immediate 
infpiration is not continued to this day ? 
Without combating the ridiculous opinion 
of thofe enthufiafts, who affirm that it is, 
I (hall fliew that this is at prefent unne- 
ceflary. The produftion of the apoftolic 
writings, and the promulgation of the 
Chriftian faith, were the great effe6ls it 
was originally intended to produce. To 
the former of thefe, not one jot, not one 
tittle is to be added ; the latter, has been 
fufficiently effefiled by the preaching of 
the Apoftles, and their fuccelTors in the 
miniftry. 



Whea 



On Whit-Sunday. 81 

When the will of God was once per- sekm, 
fefitly revealed, and demonftrably ftiewn w-v-*^ 
to deferve that charafter, the feeds of 
Chrift's religion were fown, and whether 
they Ihould bring forth fruit or not, was 
to be left to thofe on whom the light of 
the Gofpel had flione. Now whoever 
expefts immediate infpiration, muft hope 
for it for the fake of others^ or for his 
own. The inftru6tion of others is amply 
provided for in facred Scripture, and no 
man has a right to require a fuperior 
indulgence of this nature from Heaven, 
which indeed is as unneceffary to himfelf 
as to others. 

In the beginning of this difcourfe, I 
promifed, after (hewing the abfolute ne- 
ceffity of the defcent of the Holy Spirit 
on the Apoftles, to conhder fome of the 
great advantages we enjoy, by means 
of it, to this very day, and of which we 
avail ourfelves to the eftablilhment of our 
faith and hope in eternity. 



The firft of thefe is, the faithful re- 
lations of the life and behaviour of our 
G Saviour 



82 0?i WhiUSundciy. 

SERM. Saviour Jefus. and a true record of his 
doftrine and commands in the facred 
Gofpels, which contain indifputable marks 
of their divine origin, in the plain and 
clear manner in which they relate the 
moft wonderful facts, without the parade 
of human eloquence, or the arts of com- 
pofition ; in the fuperior and heavenly 
excellence of the precepts laid down in 
them ; and in their wonderful harmony, 
and conformity with each other, fuch as 
are moft evident and convincing, though 
clearly not the efFe6l of defign and col- 
lufion in the writers. The fecond, is the 
hiftory of the miniftry and fufferings of 
certain of our Lord's Difciples, the pre- 
cepts they gave to the churches, and the 
miracles whereby they confirmed the 
truth of their miffion. The third, the 
revelation of prophecies to be accomplifhed 
in latter times to the glory of God, and 
in order to complete the great fcheme of 
his Providence ! And in truth, if comfort 
in diftrefs, if hope in affliftion, if pati- 
ence in forrow, if refolution in danger, 
if conftancv in calamity, if chearful re- 

iignation 



On IVhit'Siinday. 

fignation in death itfelf, are defirable, it 
is from thefe infpired writings that we 
obtain thefe bleffmgs. Behold one trem- 
bhng on the very verge of hfe, deferted 
by all that was deareft to him, refigning 
all that was defirable, quitting all that 
was delightful in this world ! By the 
voice of truth he is awakened to new 
joys, his eyes are opened to fuperior 
glories ! He fees with the eye of faith 
his Redeemer, looking down on him from 
heaven ; and the Father, through the all- 
powerful interceffion of his beloved Son, 
accepting his penitence and contrition. 
He beholds with tranfport, that his efforts 
have not been exerted in vain, that his 
prayers have never been offered unheard, 
and that his tears of penitence have not 
flowed without effeft. But what could 
have afTured him of all thefe things, but 
the promife of God himfelf? And how 
could that promife have been revealed to 
men, but by means of infpiration ? This 
gift therefore to the holy Apoftles, is in 
truth the great fource of our chief com- 
fort and happinefs here, and the origin 
G 2 of 



071 Whit-Sunday, 

of that which we expert in the regions 
of bhfs, fince from hence we are in- 
ftru6led how to attain the favour of God, 
and to avail ourfelves of the mediation 
and merits of his Son. 

But that our expectation may not 
finally be vain, we fliall next confider, 
how it ought to influence our behaviour, 
whether in imitation of the holy Apoftles 
we give^ or after the manner of their 
Difciples receive inftru6iion. The former 
of thefe, my Brethren, is an arduous 
taik ; full of difficulty to thofe by whom 
it is undertaken. As the Son of God 
fent the Apoftles, through the Holy Ghoft, 
lb they having fent others by virtue of 
the fame Spirit, and given them powers 
ftill to continue the minifterial fucceffion ; 
their duty is, according to St. Peter, to 
feed the flock of Chrift which is among 
them, taking the overflght thereof. This 
is a difficult undertaking for weak and 
frail men, who through ignorance or in- 
firmity are ever liable to err, and who 
are expofed to be led away from their duty 

by 



On Whit'Sundai) ^ 85 

by many occurrences, accidents, and serm. 
temptations, which may every hour divert 
their attention. 



It is a tafk which no man can efteftually 
fulfil ; I mean without perceiving, on re- 
flexion upon his own condu6l in it, an 
infinite number of errors, and omiffions. 
He muft, notwithftanding, difcharge it 
with faithfulnefs, with diligence, with in- 
duftry, and perfeve ranee, refpe6ling al- 
w^ays the will of God, not the perfons of 
men ; neither flattering their pride or pre- 
judices, nor fparing their follies and vices ; 
knowing that the law of Chrift is perfeft, 
that it is incapable of mifinterpretalion 
by thofe who are truly defirous of learn- 
ing it ; that it will not bend down to the 
fl:andard men fet up for themfelves, but 
mufl; be the fovereign and indifpenfable 
rule of all who afpire at prefent and fu- 
ture happinefs, and have a rational hope 
of enjoying them. 



To continue fl;cdfalt in the performance 
of every part of thefe extenfive duties, 
G 3 is 



86 On Whit-Sundaij. 

SERM is a high degree of human excellence, 
and perhaps no time was ever more 
trying than thofe in which we live, when 
an abhorrence of all controul, and a 
contempt of order, feem, like the poifon 
of fome dreadful contagion, to be fpread- 
ing abroad to the deltruftion of fociety. 
But the difficulty of retaining men in 
their duty, may be confiderably leffened 
by thofe for whcfe benefit it is defigned, 
if (as the Apoftle fays to the Hebrews) 
they " remember, and obey them that 
" have the rule over them, and fubmit 
themfelves, becaufe they watch for their 
" fouls, as thofe who muft give an account/' 
When all confpire to the promotion of 
their own falvation, the great ends of 
Providence are anfwered by both parties, 
and Chrift our facrifice, who died for 
us, hath not been offered up in vain. 

Let me, therefore, exhort you, my 
beloved brethren, always to confider 
yourfelves as Chrift's flock, retaining in 
your minds a hearty fenfe of his good- 
nefs, in calling you to the glorious hopes 

of 



On Whit-Sunday. 

of falvation, and revealing to you that 
word, whereby you are directed to arrive 
at it. Let me intreat you to ftudy with 
dihgence, and conftancy, thefe excellent 
writings, which afford an unerring light 
to guide your footfteps in the ways of 
righteoufnefs, and the paths of prefent, and 
eternal peace. You will difcern and admire 
more and more the great fcheme of Provi- 
dence, which is there developed, as far 
as eternal wifdom hath decreed neceffary 
to the fons of men ; you will ardently 
wi(h and pray for its completion, wherein 
the juftice, and mercy of our eternal 
Father, will be difplayed before the eyes 
of his numberlefs creatures ; and you will 
be inflamed with a truly pious, and ar- 
dent defire of performing the part allot- 
ted you, in this vaft and univerfally be- 
neficent plan of holinefs, by the praftice 
of every chriflian virtue, which gives dig- 
nity to our nature, and, through Chrifl^s 
mediation, renders us acceptable to God. 
And as for me, when I confider how 
unworthy an iniirument I am in God^s 
hand, towards the promotion of your 
G 4 eternal 



88 0)2 WhU-Simdaij. 

SERM, eternal welfare, I tremble left any omif* 
fion, or inattention of mine, ftiould retard 
you in your progrefs ; but God will un- 
doubtedly^ (if we fervently befeech him,) 
fupply what is deficient in our imperfeft 
nature, and accept and profper our en- 
deavours for the fake of Jefus Chrift. 
Approach, therefore, his holy table in full 
truft in his mercy; and, as ye hope to 
derive benefit from the revelation God 
has vouchfafed you, from the redemption 
of the world by Chrift Jefus our Saviour, 
and to be fan6tified by the Holy Ghoft, 
the Comforter, ' receive this holy com- 
^ munion to your foul's health, and to the 
^ furtherance of your continual improve- 
* ment in a holy and chriftian hfe/ 



SERMON 



SERMON VI. 



THE PRAISE OF GOD TO BE PHEFEIl 
RED TO THE PRAISE OF MEN. 



St. John xii. 43. 

They loved the praife of Men^ more than 
the praife of God, 

The Holy Spirit, fpeaking by the serm. 
Evangelift St. John, informs us, " that 
" many among the chief rulers, beheved 
" on Jefus but were afraid to acknow- 
ledge it, left they fliould be excommu- 
nicated from the Jewifh church ; " they 
" did not confefs him, becaufe of the 
" Pharifees," the moft popular, and ap- 
parently the ftrifteft fe£l among the Jews, 
left through their influence they ftiould 
be put out of the fynagogue. " For 
" they loved the praife of men, more 
" than the praife of God.'' 

Againft 



The Praife of God preferable 

Againft this their preference, we are 
no doubt) every one of us, decided in 
our opinion ; being httle aware how, in 
forming this judgment, we condemn our- 
felves, and ftill lefs aware how often in 
our inftruflions we miflead thefe, who 
are deareft to us, into the very error 
which we fo jultly blame. To prevent 
the introdu6lion of it into the minds of 
thofe whom we inftruft, and to corre6l 
it in our own minds, will be my endea- 
vour in the following difcourfe. 

The advantages of a good chara6ler 
are continually difplayed before the eyes 
of thofe young perfons, who may have a 
claim to our tendereft regard, and con-^ 
fiant attention. And the principle is a 
good one, as long as it is confidered in 
a fubordinate rank to one far fuperior ; 
for a perfefl indifference, as to the opinion 
others entertain of us, is a proof of pride 
and of folly, which would be univerfally 
difgufting, in an age not fo inflated with 
conceit as the prefent. But the error of 
thofe, who juflly reprefent the advantages 

of 



to the Praife of Men. 

of a good name, is, that they lead young s 
perfons to beheve, that when it is once ^ 
obtained, all is done ; and the trite 
proverb which teaches, that after the 
acquifition of it, v/e may repofe in perfed 
indolence, becaufe good fortune muft of 
courfe attend us, is too often repeated by 
fuch as a golden maxim. 

But the only faithful teft of the re- 
lative value of fpeculative principles, is 
the application of them to matters of 
fa6l. Let us do this in the prefent in- 
ftance, and obferve the difference between 
the conduct which is purfued for the 
purpofe of fecuring the praife of men, 
and that which has for its great and 
ultimate objeft, what is called in my text, 
the praife of God. 

Man, though a tolerably competent 
judge of externa] behaviour, cannot com- 
pletely know the heart. He is feldom 
accurate in his opinion of his own, and 
much lefs qualified to judge of another's. 
One perfon only hath appeared in the 

form 



92 The Praife of God preferable 

SERM. form and fafliion of a man, who " knew 
^.^..^^ " what was in man and that was He, 
" by whom all things were made/' The 
judgment of men, on the external be- 
haviour of an individual, is that which 
conftitutes chara6lev ; and as this judg- 
ment is comparativel}^ fuperficial, it may 
be rendered favourable, by whatever is 
fuperficially amiable. 

Befide, truth is not always the foun- 
dation of general opinion. If it were, 
there would be no various fucceffion of 
fuch prevalent notions, modes of expref- 
fion, and habits of aftion in the world, 
as -are continually adopted. As things 
are, a ftri6l adherence to the laws of 
truth is not fo likely to gain worldly 
applaufe, as occafional conformity to the 
over-ruling fafhion of the times. Certain 
virtues are at different times extremely 
unpopular, and then the praftice of them 
provokes contempt. Certeiin vices, at 
different feafons, acquire an afcendancy ; 
and a conduft, which has for its obje6l 
nothing higher than the praife of men^ 

omits 



to the Praife of Men, 93 

omits any marked refpefil for the neg- se^rm. 
Ie6led virtue ; but difcovers much tender- v,^^^ 
nefs, if not approbation, towards the 
prevaihng vice. When our bleffed Savi- 
our appeared in the world, and by his 
conduffc, his do6trine, and miracles, gave 
proofs fufficient to every candid judgment 
that he was the Meffiah, it was furely 
the duty of every one to comply with 
his exhortation, to " fearch thofe Scrip- 
" tures, in which they thought they had 
" eternal life, and which teftified of him;" 
but this duty was neglefted by thofe 
who led the way, and affumed the higheft 
character in religious concerns. Incre- 
dulity was the prevailing vice, and it wns 
impoffible either to gain or preferve ge- 
neral approbation, without profeffmg it 
publicly, and teftifying it, by feizing 
every opportunity of oppofing or vilifying 
our Lord. We may fee how thofe, who 
afited thus, were led by the predominant 
opinions, and not by their own knowledge, 
from their queftion, " Have any of the 
" Pharifees believed on him 



Such 



The Praife of God preferable 

Such is ' the condufl: of all, whofe ob-- 
jeft is the praife of men; how different 
from theirs, who afpire at the praife of 
God ! 

The motives of aftion, in fuch men, 
are as immutable as the truth from 
whence they originate. In eftablifhing 
them, no influence is allowed to opinions, 
whether public or private, any farther 
than while they are in ftrifl: confonance 
with Revelation. It alone is allowed bj^ 
them to be the rule of conduft, to which 
all reafonings, imaginations, and propen- 
fities, muft fubmit. The divine example 
it exhibits, is the only ftandard of per- 
fection ; and the fmcere imitation of it 
engages them in atchievements, far above 
thofe occafional efforts, which fecure the 
palm of popular applaufe. That indeed 
mufl, in certain cafes, be little efteemed, 
and in many inftances be abfolutely re- 
je6led. It is in the filent approbation 
of confcience, and the humble hope of 
acceptance, that the immediate rewards 
of thofe virtues are to be experienced, 

which 



to the Praife of Men. 95 

which either attraft no notice from the s;er?^i. 
world, or, if they do, excite only its 
derifion. 

None of thefe internal and ineftimable 
fatisfaftions are experienced by him, who 
hath fought only the praife of men. 
though fuccefs hath elevated him to the 
higheft pinnacle of celebrity. He knows 
that his own glory is as tranfitory, as it 
is ill-founded. Applaufe itfelf oftcD 
founds in his ears like cenfure ; for when 
others commend him for what he appears 
to be, he is fenfible that they are telling 
him only what he ought to be. He 
labours under the conftant anxiety and 
difficulty of preferving the confiftency of 
an unfubftantial charafiler. If he prof- 
pers in the world, he is fenfible that his 
apparent merit hath defrauded real merit 
of its juft reward. If difappointment or 
misfortune befals him, he has no refource 
within. There is no dignity in hypocrify; 
and hope in futurity is unknown to one, 
who hath fought all his gratifications in 
this world. This ftate of the mind is th^ 

true, 



The Praife of God preferable 

true, the only caufe, why fo many who 
have all their lives been the objefils of 
flattery, and the favourites of fortune, 
have been difcovered to be extremely 
miferable, have in fome inftances been 
abfolutely weary of life, and at length 
have, by the fatal violence committed 
againft themfelves, difcovered their own 
unworthinefs. Miferable ftate indeed ! 
when he who cannot endure to look upon 
the deformity of his own mind, haftens 
away from the acclamations of unmerited 
applaufe, to appear before a tribunal, 
where that deformity will be expofed to 
everlafting contempt. 

The comparative value of divine and 
human approbation, will never be per- 
feftly underftood, till that moft awful 
time, " when the fecrets of all hearts 
" lhall be difclofed;'' when the Son of 
man will be aftiamed of many, who will 
have received undue honour during their 
whole lives, though they were afhamed 
of him and his words. Thefe men will 
then appear like the contemptible Jftock 

of 



to the Praife of Men, 

of an idol ftript of its decorations, their 
fecret fins as the ravages of the worm, 
and the corruption of their hearts as rot- 
tennefs and decay. What then will be- 
come of the praife of men^ which they 
had as they thought fecured ? And what 
will be their unavaiUng reproaches againft 
thofe, who taught them to confider and 
to feek that praife, as infuring the acqui- 
fition of every defirable obje6l ? 

But, in truth, the praife of men is 
never perfectly fecured. Thofcj who hav© 
had no higher objeft, are in perpetual 
danger of forfeiting the reputation they 
have acquired. Envy is ever ready to 
catch at any fudden failure, or the dif- 
covery of fome weaknefs, which is fatal 
to the character it is eager to cteftroyo 
If the error is important, it vitiates all 
the preceding conduft ; and pait appro-^ 
bation furniflies only a caufe of aftonifli- 
ment, how any one fo generally approved 
could be induced, by a flight temptation^ 
to abandon every principle of his former 
behaviour ; and this is generally accounted 
H for 



98 The Praife of God preferable 

SE^M. for by charitably attributing to hypocrify, 
v-*%^ every aftion which had once been crowned 
with praifes. 

Not fo can it befal any one, who has 
" acquainted himfelf with God, and is 

at peace with him" He well know^s 
that the omnifcient Being, whofe appro- 
bation he defires, expe6ls not perfeftion 
in any of his creatures ; that there is no 
offence which he will not forgive the fin- 
cere penitent, for the fake of his bleffed 
Son ; that no fingle one can for ever 
forfeit his favour, as it would that of the 
world ; that God's wifdoni difcerns clearly 
between the effeGt of infirmity, and that 
of wilful prefumption ; and that in this, 
as in all other cafes, it is far better to 

fall into the hand of the Lord, whofe 

mercies are great,'' than to " fall into 
" the hand of man/' 

But it may be fuppofed by fome, that 
the univerfal approbation of men may be 
enjoyed together with the praife of 
God. Our great Mafter hath taught us 

the 



to the Praife of Men. 

the contrary. " Woe unto you/' faith 
he to his Difciples, " when all men fhall 
" fpeak well of you, for fo did their 
fathers to the falfe prophets/' Thefe 
were they, who complied with the foli- 
citations of the people, thus exprefied by 
Ifaiah, " Prophefy not unto us right 
*^ things, fpeak unto us fmooth things, 
" prophecy deceits/' This is equally 
applicable to human conduft. Reftitude 
without fmoothnefs, and void of deceit^ 
creates refpe6l in all ; but it occafions 
an awe which oppreffes the unprincipled, 
and it tempts the moft malignant attacks 
of envy. Excellence of charafter cannot 
indeed exift, without exciting the abufe 
of the weak and the wicked ; and there 
is nothing which {hould fo foon create ia 
us a fufpicion of our too ready compliance 
with the world, as the continual flattery 
of unqualified praife. But let us always 
remember, that fuch " friendfliip with the 
" world is enmity with God.'' * 

* James iv. 4. 



It 



100 The Pmjc of God preferable 

SERM. It muft not be diflembled ; nor Hiould 
v^-y^ we leave young perlons, efpecially in 
whofe Vv'eltare we intereft ourfelves, un- 
apprized, that VLVdny of the indulgences 
of this life muft be foregone by every 
one, who prefei's the praife of God to 
the praife of man ; but, let us at the 
fame time fet before all the true nature 
of fuch indulgences ; let us alfure them, 
that there is no real enjoyment of that 
which is not honourably acquired, and 
innocently poffeiTed ; nor of that, which 
is not partaken with heartfelt gratitude 
to the Author of all good, and with an 
humble hope that it is a mark of his 
favour ; and let us remind them, that 
when the world, and all the honours^ the 
riches, and the power, which it can be- 
llow, {hall van lib at once from our fight, 
mifery and defpair muft fucceed^ if, for 
the fake of thefe obje6ts, we fliall have 
negle6led to obtain the praife of God. 

The general maxim then, which I 
would recommend to be imprefled upon 
the minds of young perfons entering into 

lifcy 



to the Praife of Men. 101 

life, is indeed very ditFerent from the serm. 
common one ; but may be exprelTed in 
the following terms : — Endeavour to gain 
the applaufe of all the wife, and all the 
good, by approving yourfelves in the 
eyes of the divine Author of all wifdom 
and goodnefs. If your endeavours fuc« 
ceed, perfuade not yourfelves that you 
may repofe in fecurity ; for you muft 
expe6l many trials and temptations in 
the world, many interruptions^ perhaps 
the utter lofs of your moft valuable and 
virtuous gratifications ; but even, if it 
ILould pleafe the Sovereign Difpofer of 
all things, to continue to you temporal 
bleffmgs, even through the extent of a 
long protrafted life, you muft always be 
on your guard, left thefe tranfitory ob- 
jects ftiould engrofs your attention from 
that eternal one, which fhould be the 
original caufe, and become the final 
reward of your exertions. He, who la- 
bours only for the praife of men, may 
fooner, perhaps with lefs difficulty, gain 
his point ; but, your patience and per- 
feverance, t]iough necefiary to the vezy 
II 3 ends 



The Praife of God preferable 

end, muft fecure to you for ever an un- 
fading crown of glory. 

And let it not be imagined that no- 
thing is here propofed to the young to 
incite them to afpire at the praife of 
God, except profpefts, which, at their 
time of life, may appear to be diftant. 
In truth we propofe to them that which, 
if adopted J will fecure to them the 
higheft degree of happinefs, of which 
this life, with all its viciflitudes, is capa- 
ble. Every incident of it, whether prof- 
perous or adverfe, becomes to him who 
feeks to approve himfelf before God, in- 
ftrumental towards that excellent pur- 
pofe. Whether fufferings call upon him 
for the praflice of patience, and humble 
fubmiffion, or temporal bleffmgs operate 
to the increafe of his love and gratitude 
to the eternal Father, he receives them 
all as the difpenfations of divine wifdom, 
operating in his favour. Content is 
therefore his infeparable companion ; and 
the termination of this varied fucceffion 
of temporal events, far from appearing 

in 



to the Praife of Men, 

in his light, as it does to the candidate 
for mere worldly applaufe, the annihi- 
lation of all his glory, is a welcome in- 
troduction into the prefence of that mer- 
ciful God, before whom, through the me- 
diation of our blelTed Saviour, he is fure 
to be approved. 



n 4 SERMON 



SERMON VII. 



ON' THE Ixxiid PSALM, 

PART 



Psalm Ixxii. 18, 19. 

BleJJed be the Lord God, even the God 
of Ifrael^ zihich onJij doeth wonderous 
Things ; 

And blejjed be the Name of his Mqje/iy 
for ever : and all the Earth Jhall be 
filled with his Majefty, Amen, Amen. 

The words I have read to you, my 
beloved brethren, are fubUme expreffions 
of thankfgiving, clofing that Pfalm, in 
which David, praying for his fon Solomon, 
and predifting the temporal glories of 

his 



0?i the Ixxiid Pfahn, 

his reign, at the fame time foretels a 
kingdom far more exalted, even the 
kingdom of the eternal Son of God. 

Our Lord hath inftrufted and com- 
manded us to pray continually, that the 
kingdom of God ftiould come ; thus, not 
only teaching us, that its arrival would 
be a fupreme bleffmg to mankind ; but 
giving us alfo an encouragement to pre- 
ferve in our minds this precious hope, 
fince we are affured, that " whatever we 
" afk according to his will, he heareth 
" us." To the unbeliever this hope is 
unknown. To him, who having once 
believed hath yet been deluded to aban- 
don his faith, and deny his Saviour, it is 
loft, as riches calt into the fea. To thofe, 
who are refolved to put their truft in 
God, notwithftanding what may happen 
in this falfe, this changeable world, it 
remains in all ftorms and dangers " an 
" anchor of the foul, both fure and fted- 
" faft, which entereth into that which is 
" within the veil, whither the forerunner 
" is for us entered, even Jefus, made an 

« High 



On the Ixxiid Ffalm. 107 

" High Prieft for ever, after the order serm. 
« of Melchifedec/^ 

And if we, my beloved brethren, have 
all reafon to delire that " every one of 
*^ you fliould fliew diligence in all righte- 
" oufnefs, to the full affurance of your 
" hope unto the end ; that ye ftiould not 

be flothful, but followers of them, who 
" through faith and patience inherit the 
" promifes f it furely becomes us to ad- 
minifter unto you thofe confolations, 
which will enable you to endure many 
afi3i6lions of fpirit, which you muft fuffer 
from the enemies of Chrift and his truth ; 
from the prefumptuous impiety wherewith 
both your Lord and his religion are daily 
blafphemed, and from the confideration 
of how many unhappy fouls are eft ranged 
from God, and betrayed into eternal 
deftru6lion, by fuch as indefatigably la- 
bour to introduce a falfe, worldly, and 
flattering wifdom to the fmful heart of 
man, inftead of that which alone is 
divine. 



It 



108 On the Ixxiid Pfalm. 

SERM. It is our duty to fet before voiir eves 
VII. ^ , ^ 

the treafures of God's promifes, which in 
their completion will excel whatever " the 
" eye hath feen, the ear heard, or it 
^' hath entered into the heart of man to 
" conceive/' and which are expreffed in 
fuch a manner as claims our beft atten- 
tion, and confirmed by fuch teftimonies 
of the truth of Him who hath made 
them, that it is impoffible for impartial 
reafon to contradict or queftion, 

i 

To prove this, I fliall principally infiit 
on two points. One is, that " the fare 

word of prophecy,'' as St. Peter calls 
it, has from the earlieft ages preferved 
one uniform tenor, and that its grand 
objed hath been the glorious kingdom of 
God's eternal Son. The other is, that 
the fuperintendance of divine Providence 
in directing the affairs of the world, fo 
as to bring to pals in due time every 
event, which the Holy Spirit hath pre- 
dicted, is plainly to be feen in the hiftory 
of nation.^.' The conclufions I fliall draw 
from the eftabliflmient of thefe points, 

will 



M. 



0?i the ixxlid Pfalm. 109 

tvill I triift, operate not only to prevent ser 
the minds of the faithful from being 
alarmed by the appearance of circum- 
ftances hoftile to the accomplifhment of 
the divine promifes : but alfo to preferve 
in them a lively hope, and fure reliance 
on the declarations concerning the king- 
dom of everlafting peace^ which abound 
in Scripture, and are lb emphatically 
expreffed by David fpeaking of our Lord, 
and faying, " All the earth fliall be filled 
^' with his Majefty. Amen, Amen/' 

The curiofity of the human mind, the 
general defire of fearching into futurity, 
hath always fecured confiderable attention 
to thofe, who have pretended to the gift 
of prefcience. Even in our days, the 
moft ignorant impoftors acquire a fort of 
reputation, and certain fupport from th^ 
credulity of the w^eak and inexpej^ienced, 
though in truth the only thing which 
they can furely foretel is, that they them- 
felves fliall gain by a6ting upon the fears, 
the hopes, and the curiofity of fuch de- 
luded perfons. 

That 



0?i the Ixxiid Pfalm* 

That Chriftians fhould apply to fuch 
contemptible oracles, is a matter of juft 
aftonifliment ; for, if they mean to con- 
fult an evil fpirit, through its minlfters, 
they are guilty of inquiring of hell after 
information, which is denied them by 
Heaven ; if they fuppofe that thofe they 
confult, who have no proof to give of 
their authority, can be commiffioned from 
God, or, that they have received fuch a 
divine commiffion for the purpofe of re- 
folving every trifling queftion, which 
groundlefs fears, vain hopes, or even the 
moft impertinent inquifitivenefs may fug- 
geft, the very fuppofition is a heinous 
affront committed againft the Majefty of 
God. 

Among the ancient nations, indeed, 
who were given up to the error of their 
own ways, which they purfued while in- 
volved in the thick darknefs of idolatry, 
it is lefs to be wondered at that advantage 
was taken of their ignorance and curiofity, 
by a defigning priefthood, or by male- 
volent fpirits. Some accounts of ancient 

oracles 



On thelxxMFfalm. Ill 
oracles preferved to this day, are of fuch serm. 
a fort, as to lead us to fufpeft that thofe v^.^ 
devils, to whom they often facrificed their 
fons and their daughters, had the power 
of diflating many furprizing prediftions. 
There are many others indeed, which 
were expreffed with fo much cautious am« 
biguity, and the very words of which 
are of fo mutable a conftruftion, that 
they muft have been accomplilhed what- 
ever might happen ; but, even thofe ora- 
cles which excited moft powerfully the 
admiration of mankind, are entirely void 
of that grand diftinguifliing charafiteriftic, 
which we trace throughout the oracles of 
God. 

If a heathen oracle was furprizingly 
accomplilhed, there was an end of it. 
It was a detached prediftion, uttered when 
it was applied for, and terminating in one 
fmgle event, relative to the fortune of 
fome one nation, or fome individuaL 
It was impoffible to form a connection 
between it and other prophecies uttered 
from the fame ftirine, and it was equally 

impoffible 



112 On the Ixxiid Pfahrh 

SERM. impoflible to find it between the events 

VII. 

predifted even in the fame temple ; but^ 
whoever impartially conliders the feries 
of divine oracleSj delivered in the Old 
and New Teftament, muft fee that they 
have all, direftly or indireftly, one great 
objeft in view, no lefs than the falvation 
of all mankind; an objeft, in Gomparifon 
of which all worldly ones are as nothings 
to the accomplilhment of which the rife 
and fall of men and nations are not only 
inferior, but abfolutely fubordin^te ; an 
obje£lj truly worthy of the interpofition 
of that great and good God, who hath 
created all the generations of men for 
their happinefs, and for his own glory. 

Perhaps thofe who doubt this, may afk 
us to arrange all the prophecies in fuch 
a manner, as to fhew what part and re- 
lation every one of them holds in the 
great fcheme. It might with equal rea- 
fon be demanded, that we fliould afcertain 
the power, and defcribe the operation of 
all the fecondary caufes, which are em» 
ployed by the Almighty in his admini- 

ftration 



On the Ixxild Pfalm. 113 

juration of the moral government of the serm. 
world, to bring about his own excellent ^^'-^ 
purpofes. It is enough, and all that can 
be with reafon demanded of us, if we 
Ihew that, from the very firft beginning 
of prophecy, not only it is evident, that 
the whole of it related to one grand 
obje6l ; but, . that the very manner in 
which the firft predi6lion is expreffed, was 
fuch as to encourage the fucceeding ge- 
nerations of the world, to expe6l a gra- 
dual difcovery of a great fcheme of Pro- 
vidence, for the univerfal benefit of mano 
No fooner had our firft parents fallen, 
and by their difobedience incurred the 
wrath of God, and entailed it on their 
pofterity, than a declaration is made to 
the ferpent, that " the feed of the v/oman 
" fhould bruife his head, and that the 
ferpent fhould bruife his heel/' It is 
to entertain but very mean notions of th© 
revelation of God's will, and of a folemn 
promife made to our firft parents, labour- 
ing under the accumulated fufFerings of 
guilt and remorfe, to fuppofe that the 
enmity which God declared he would put 

I between 



114 On the Ixxiid Pfalmo 

SERM. between the feed of the woman, and the 
feed of the ferpent, meant nothing more 
than the natural antipathy between men 
and thofe reptiles. The truth is, that 
the conqueft of the tempter, and the 
deadly wound to be given unto him, wh© 
was permitted to bruile the heel, that is, 
to entail death upon the inferior part of 
our nature, which became fubjeft to moi- 
tality, is here foretold. In this is in- 
cluded the univerfal eftablilhment of 
Chrift's kingdom, after he fnall have put 
down all rule, and all authority, and all 
powder, triumphing even over the laft 
enemy to be deftroyed, which is death. 

Now^, that this is the fenfe of this 
jnoft ancient prophecy is clear to any one, 
who will attend to the fucceffion of pre- 
di6lions, which hath been continued 
through all ages. We can trace this 
" river of living water," which expands 
■wider the farther it flows, and we may be 
convinced from what we behold of it, 
that it will conduct thofe who diligently 
purfue its courfe into that ocean of wifdom 

wherein 



On the Ixxlid Pjuinu 115 
wherein all the counfels of eternal omni- s^^m. 
fcience and unbounded goodnefs, will be Wy-w^ 
difplayed before the eyes of adoring 
angels, and the " fpirits of juft men made 
perfe6l/' 

To exprefs my meaning without any 
figure, I fcruple not to alfert, that the 
great plan of man's redemption through 
Jefus Chrift opens itfelf more and more 
in the feries of prophecies, from this firft 
to the very laft which hath been evidently 
fulfilled, and therefore, w^e have all rea- 
fon to conclude, that the reft will all in 
due time receive their full accomplifli- 
ment. The manner in which they have 
been fulfilled, as far exceeds the whole 
powder of human forefight, as it would 
have exceeded all human prudence to 
contrive fuch a feries, even if fome of the 
prophecies had been, as infidels have 
falfely afferted, fabricated by impoftors, 
or written after the events ; but, ^ what 
human being, or what fucceffion of men^ 
confpiring to fabricate an impofture, would 
have invented prophecies which apparently 
I 2 involved 



116 0/^ the Ixxild Pfalm. 

SEKM. involved contradi6lioDS, trufting only to 
w..,^ chance for the folntion of apparently in- 
expUcable difficulties ; or how could pre- 
tended prophecies, compofed after the 
events, which they profeffed to foretel, 
have obtained acceptance in the world ? 

Many are the prophecies relating to 
the chara6ler, birth, life, doctrine, and 
death of our Lord, which, confidered by 
a perfon who had never feen the Gofpels, 
would appear abfolutely irreconcileable 
with truth, or with each other; fo that 
it appears utterly impoffible, that a fic- 
titious hiftory of a perfon, in whom all 
thefe apparent inconfiftencies are recon- 
ciled, could ever have been impofed on 
the mofl credulous of mankind, much left 
have flood the tePc of whole ages of in- 
veftigation, and the moft fufpicious en^ 
quiry, which the pride, the paffions, the 
craft, or the moft obftinate fcepticifm 
of men could inftitute on the fubjeft. 

It is moft worthy alfo of remark, that 
^^hen the beft-laid fcheme of human 

policy 



On the Ixxiid Pfahno 

policy is once contrived, men always pro- 
vide, as far as may be, for the fecurity of 
its fuccefs, by the election of fuch in- 
ftruments as are hkely to be moft effeftual 
to fecure its perfeft execution ; but in 
many parts of the great fcheme of man^s 
redemption, that is, in many prophecies 
relating to effential parts of it, it is de- 
clared that God hath chofen inftruments 
apparently weak, and, as it fhould appear 
to reafon, ^ inadequate to the purpofes 
they were deftined to effeft. This cha- 
rafiter of prophecy appears to have ef- 
caped the attention of the Jews, both 
ancient and modern* If they faw it 
before the eftablifhment of their nation, 
as the chofen people of God, they were 
blind to it when their eyes were dazzled 
with the profpefl: of temporal dominion ; 
they continue blind to it at this very 
hour; they ftill expeft a kingdom which 
" cometh,'' as our Lord expreffeth it, 
" with obfervation,'' and fuppofe that in 
the revolutions of the world, their Meffiah 
fnall appear with all the ordinary means 
of power and conqueft, to reftore them 
I 3 tQ 



On the Ixxiid Tjalm, 

to their land, and avenge them of their? 
adverfaries. 

If, however, we may argue by analogy, 
from God's former dealings with mankind 
fmce the beginning, to what we have 
reafon to hope, there is great room to 
believe that the nature of their reftoration, 
and the means of it, will be extremely 
different from what they expeft, that 
they will be grafted in again into the 
body of the univerfal church, and that 
the immediate means of efFefting this, 
will be of a gentle nature, operating 
peaceably, but effeftually, mofi likely 
operating at this very hour, in a manner 
imperceptible both to them and to our- 
felves. 

It is very certain, that in every age of 
prophecy, there was fufficient proof from 
its very nature that it came from God | 
but yet it was always fo delivered^ 
though " at fundry times, and in divers 

manners,^' as to leave room to believers 
for the exercife of their faith. The 

Apoftle 



bnthelxx]idPfalm. 119 
Apoftle to the Hebrews hath recorded serm. 

t . VII. 

this to the honour of many emment per- 
fons, as Abelj Noah, Abraham^ and 
others, letting all thefe and their atchieve- 
ments before us as examples. Now cer- 
tainly we, " upon v/hom the ends of the 
" w^orld are come/' have over them a 
great advantage, in that we fee more of 
the great fcheme of divine Providence 
accomplifhed in the world. We are 
taught by all hiftory5 profane as well as 
facred, that the prophetic word falletk 
not unto the ground, nor returneth void 
unto him, from whofe Spirit it proceed- 
€th. Inexcufable, therefore, fliall we be 
found; if we fuffer our faith to waver,, 
becaufe we cannot^ from the tranfa6lions 
which cotne within our immediate obfer- 
vation, difcover how God's truth will 
finally prevail, and the kingdom of his 
Son furmount all oppofition. We have^ 
as thpfe of old always had, a trial of 

our faith/' which, if we hope to be 
approved, muft in us^^ as it did in them^ 

work patience/' 



I 4? I have 



135 On the Ixxlid Pfahri. 

SERM. ■ I have thus, my beloved brethren, enf- 
deavoured to eftablifli the firft point which 
I infifted on, that the " fure word of 
" prophecy'' hath from the beginning 
preferved one uniform tenor, and that its 
grand objeft hath been the glorious 
kingdom of God's eternal Son. The 
difcuffion of my fecond point, mufl be 
referved for a future occafion ; but, I 
cannot releafe you from the attention 
with which you have indulged me, with- 
out remarking to you what an infuperable 
difficulty thofe are involved in who " def« 
pife praphefyings/' who wall not believe 
that the rife, progrefs, and the final efta* 
bliihment of the univerfal kingdom of 
Chrift, have been foretold from the earli- 
eft ages of this vforld ; for they muft 
believe this abfurdity, that a number of 
perfons of various times, fituations, coun- 
tries, and difpofitions, {hould all have 
agreed in the production of a perfe6t 
fyftem of prediflions, and from their own 
invention have framed one, which fhould 
ftand the teft not only of a lapfe of near 
fixty centuries, but of all the various 
• : changes 



On the ixxiid Pfalm^ 

tlianges in human affairs, that could s 
poffibly arrive in that fpace of time. 
Shall the doubts of fuch fceptics as thefe, 
ever rob us of the hope that is within 
us ? Shall they fill our lives with hourly 
apprehenfions, and overwhelm us at our 
departure with defpair ? Shall they entice 
us far from the paths of righteoufnefs into 
vicious and unworthy pleafures, or deprive 
us of the ineftimable fatisfaclions of that 
faith which is founded on conviftion, or 
of thofe virtues which are its natural 
fruits ? God forbid. All thofe who of 
old were perfe6l in faith^ and even our 
bleffed Lord, the Author and Finifher of 
ours, " endured much contradiction of 
" finners but, let us remember his 
gracious promife to his Apoftles, a pro- 
mife on which every faithful, ftedfaft, and 
diligent fervant may alfo depend, " he 
" that endure th unto tlie end Iball be 
" faved/' 



SERMON 



SERMON VIll. 

OX THE Ixxiid PSAL3I. 
PART IL 



Psalm Ixxii. 18, 19- 

Blejfed he the Lord God^ even the God 
of IfraeU which onli/ doeth ponderous 
Things ; 

And hiejjed be the Name of his Majefty 
for ever; and all the Earth fiall he 
filed with his Majefy, Amen, Amen. 

In mv laft dilcourfe on thefe words, I serm, 

*^ .... VIII. 

endeavoured to eftablilh this point, that tlie v^*-y^ 

fure word of prophecy/' as it is called 
by St. Peter, hath, from the earlieft ages, 
preferved one uniform tenor, and that 
its grand object hath been the glorious 

kingdom 



124 On the Ixxiid P/a!m. 

SEUM. kingdom of God's eternal Son. I {hall 

VIII 

s^,,,,.^' now attempt to eftablifli the following 
propofition, that the fuperintendance of 
divine Providence in direfting: the affairs 
of the world, fo as to bring to pafs in 
due time every event, which the Holy 
Spirit hath predifted, is plainly to be 
feen in the hiftory of nations. 

Nothing moft alTuredly can be more 
ftriSly jufc, than God's claim to the 
faith of his rational creatures, whom he 
hath placed here in a ftate of trial. They 
are certainly bound in duty to believe 
whatever is contained in that revelation 
of his holy will, which bears indifputable 
charafters of divine authority. Though 
in that revelation there are many things 
above their reafon, there is nothing con- 
tradiftory to it ; and he who will not 
believe any thing, becaufe he cannot 
comprehend the manner and circumftances 
attending its exiftence, might juft as 
rationally doubt of his own ; for every 
one of us, in refle6ting on himfelf, is con- 
fcious that he is endowed with a thinking 

power. 



Oil the Ixxiid Pfalm, 

power, to which his body is obedient ; 
but reafon alone cannot inform us, how 
fuch a power began to exift, how it is 
continued in exiftence, or how it operates 
on the body : and, yet it would he as 
ridiculoufly abfurd to deny the exiftence 
of our minds, as it would be to deny the 
exiftence of our bodies themfelves. 

In truth, it feems to have been the 
will of the Almighty Father, that the 
generations of the world fliould, as well 
as individuals, be in a ftate of continual 
improvement in point of knowledge. The 
pride of man, vainly conceiving as he 
too often hath done, that he hath at- 
tained the fummit of wifdom ; the vices, 
and even the very follies which have 
repeatedly prevailed, have very frequently 
retarded his further progrefs in know- 
ledge ; but this proves only, that man, as 
a dependant being, muft err, whenever he 
difdains to be guided by the Supreme, 
and thefe inftances are permitted from 
time to time, to convince every generation 
this effential truth, 

Nows. 



On the Ixxlid Ffahn. 
Mow, in the gradual difpenfadon of 
divine knowledge to the fons of mei\ 
nothing can be more natural, or indeed 
defirable, than that there ftiould be one 
fource from whence the neceffary infor- 
mation fhould be derived; that men 
ftould alfo be able to trace it upwards 
to fuch a fource, and be convinced that 
thofe perfons, who have been the imme-= 
diate inftruments of fpreading this know- 
ledge in the w^orldj were not aftuated 
by the will of man, but abfolutely 
taught of God. 

But the unbeliever will fav. Where 
am I to feek this original fource of fuper- 
natural information ? Do you, in anfwer 
to this queftion, refer me to the records 
of a people, who were the flaves and the 
abjefts of the wife Egyptians ; who, when 
driven from among them, poffeffed but 
a fmall and infignificant territory; who 
peither extended their empire by con- 
queft, nor their reputation by fcience ; 
who in part were abforbed by an Affyrian 
conqueror, and whofe remains were car- 
ried 



On the Ixxlid Pfalm^ 

vied away into captivity by the Chal- 
dseansj and at their return from thence 
were, for their barbarifm, defpifed hj 
the poUte Greeks, and for their fuper- 
ftition, abhorred by the hberal and to- 
lerant Romans ; nay, who are at this very 
hour the contempt of all nations, even 
of thofe who pretend to found modern 
religion on the authority of their books, 
and on the preaching of an individual, 
defpifed, rejefted, and crucified ignomi^ 
nioufly, by that very people ? 

Yes, we will anfwer, it is to that 
people, and to their records, we appeal ; 
and whatever may be the opinion of vain 
men, concerning the mode and the in- 
ftruments, whereby truth hath, as we 
affert, been communicated to the world, 
we fliall build upon the very objections, 
which our adverfaries have produced, un- 
anfwerable proofs of the divine fuperin- 
tendance and interpofition, from the ear- 
liefl ages of time. 



Firft 



128 On the Ixxiid Pfalrn. 

SERM. Firft of all we affert, that the hiftory 
yj^^ written by the lawgiver of this peoplej 
has the pre-eminence over all others in 
point of antiquity. We are not ignorant 
that pretenfions have been made by other 
iiationsj by one even exifting at thi;^ 
day, the Chinefe, to an origin more re- 
mote by many thoufands of years ; but, 
it is not the fabrication of fabulous ge- 
nealogies, accounts of dynafties of ima- 
ginary princes, or the falfe arrangement 
of fome, which were in faft contemporary, 
and reigned in certain diftricls of the 
fame country, but are mifreprefented as 
having fucceeded each other in its uni- 
verfal government, that can impofe upon 
us a fiftitious chronologj^ Nor can the 
impenetrable obfcurity, in which the true 
hiftorians of many other nations confefs 
their origin is hidden, induce us to give 
them credit for priority before a people, 
whofe beginning is ftated in the plaineft 
manner, and to whofe hittorical books the 
very heavens and earth bear teftimony ; 
for if the heavens declare the glory 
of God, and the firmament ftieweth his 

^' handy 



On the Ixxiid Pfalm, 

liandy work, there is no other way in 
which the wifeft of men have endeavoured 
to account for their exittence, their fup- 
port, and the continuance of the harmony 
of their parts, and the regularity of the 
motions of the glorious bodies they con- 
tain, that can be compared with that 
which we have received from Mofes, 
who, though it pleafed God to leave the 
difcoveries of nature, to the induftry and 
fagacity of man, that the good might 
meet with fucceffive caufes of praife, and 
the perverfe be confounded by continual 
refutations of their own vain and impious 
theories of the origin and fubfiftence of 
the world, hath in one moft fublime but 
fimple fentence, admired by the wifeft in 
all ages, taught us that " in the begin- 
ning God created the heaven and the 
" earth/' 

In the earth itfelf exift proofs of that 
great revolution, which happened at the 
deluge. Unbelievers have endeavoured 
to fhew, from the different ftrata obferv- 
able within it, that it is of much higher 
K antiquity 



130 0?i the \xxnd Pf aim. 

SERM. antiquity than our chronology fuppofes ; 

v-^Y^ but, no argument of this fort deftroys 
the credibihty of the Mofaic hiftory ; 
and the traces of the deluge, which is 
recorded there, are plainly perceptible to 
every man of the leaft obfervation. 

Every one carries in his own mind 
proofs of the truth of the hiftory of the 
fall of man. Will any man confider his 
owTi propenfity to evil, and the unhappy 
eiFe6l it has had on his paft life, and 
ftill doubt w^hether our nature is corrupt ? 
Can any man refleft on the good difpo- 
fitions w^hich we are capable of acquiring 
and improving, without believmg and 
hoping that man may be reftored ? But 
where, where can we find any rational 
account of the means of that reftoration, 
except in the writings, of which that- 
nation, now fo much defpifed, was for fo 
many ages the only depofitary ? 

Let me here remark, that this people 
were in pofleffion of oracles, the full im- 
port of which they did not underftand* 

Their 



On the Ixxiid Pfahn. 131 

Their own temporal welfare, which they serm. 
looked upon to be the ultimate objefil of v-*-y^ 
thefe prediftions, was only fubordinate 
to the full completion of that promife of 
infinite mercy, " In thy feed ihall all 
the families of the earth be bleffed." 

It was indeed for this great purpofe, 
and that the promife of God Ihould con- 
tinue fure, that this nation hath been fo 
wonderfully preferved. We are told that 
the Egyptians hated, defpifed, and ex- 
pelled them. But where now are the 
Egyptians ? Nothing remains of them, 
but proofs of their abominable fuperfti- 
tion, in the infefts, and the remains of 
other fuch obje6ls of worlHp, fouud in 
their embalmed bodies, and their build- 
ings of ftupendous magnitude, which 
were poflibly the works of the defpifed 
fons of Ifrael, labouring under their tail;- 
mafters. Where now is the Aiiyrian 
who fmote them with the rod ? Nineveh, 
though it once repented, is made a 
defolation. Even Babylon the great, 
which carried them away captive, is known 
K 2 no 



On the Ixxiid Pfalm. 

no more. For the prophet had faid, 
" Sit thou filent, and get thee into 
" darknefs, O daughter of the Chaldaeans, 
" for thou fhalt no more be called the 
" lady of kingdoms/' 

Such is the fate of the oppreffors of 
Ifrael, and of the deftroyers of the firft 
temple of the Jews ; but the name of 
that people, by whofe princes, Cyrus and 
ArtaxerxeSj the Jews were reftored, and 
their temple rebuilt, the name of Perfia 
ftill remaineth on the earth, hath fiir- 
vived many changes, probably as an 
encouragement to other nations, to co- 
operate to the final reftoration of the Jews 
in God's good time, when the fuUnefs of 
the Gentiles fliall be come in. 

Not fo hath it been with Greece. Of 
all its various governments, not one hath 
furvived the ravages of time. That phi- 
lofophy, which was fo much indebted to 
the wifdom of Egypt, and much more, 
as we plainly trace, to the wifdom of the 
Hebrews, that pliilofophy to which the 

Chriftiah 



On the Ixxiid Pfalm. 133 

Chriftian difpenfation appeared fooliflmefs, ^^.^j^^^- 
is heard with reverence no more. Its v-^v-*^ 
light is loft among us in brighter beams, 
while the ignorant and bio'otted Mufful- 
man fits in fuUen fiate, amid the ruins 
of thofe porticos in which it was taught, 
looking down contemptuoufly on the 
opprefTed Greek, who retains no dif- 
tinftion of his anceftry, but a corrupted 
language and a degraded name. 

Even the Romans, falfely called tole- 
rant, who fubjugated the Jews, deftroyed 
their city, and left not of their temple 
one ftone upon another, who harralTed 
the Chriftian church in ten perfecutions ; 
what are now thofe lords of the world, 
what is their city but the reproach of 
the Chriftian name, where fuperftition 
and the abomination of every deteftable 
crime, as yet hold a divided empire. 

That notwithftanding all thefe changes 
in the world, this nation of the Jews 
hath ever been protefted ; that even its 
name ihould continue, though celebrated 
K 3 by 



134 0?i the Ixxiid Pfalm. 

SER^M. by fame neither for conquefts, nor for 
v^^^^ arts ; that its writings ftiould fubfift, and 
contain fuch a fucceffion of predictions 
of thefe events, as human contrivance 
could ne^ er devife ; that the writings of 
the New Teftament fliould be fo inti- 
mately connefted with the Old, as to 
be plainly to all, except the obdurate 
Jew, and incorrigible Infidel, a conti- 
nuation of the great fcheme of the reve- 
lation of God's defign, to reconcile and 
reftore mankind ; that the Gofpel, by 
which alone life and immortality is 
brought to light, fliould contain, as it 
does, indifputable proofs of the accom- 
plifliment of ancient prophecy, in the 
perfon of our bleffed Lord, in a manner 
exceeding far the expefilations, and the 
modern prejudices of the Jews ; that the 
New Teftament fliould have continued 
the chain of prophecy, of which fo much 
is come to pafs fince the death of Chrifl:, 
that there is all reafon to believe, that 
not one jot nor one tittle of it will fail. 
All thefe coniiderations are invincible 
motives to every candid perfon to believe 

the 



On thelxxndPfalm. 135 

the words of the fubhme Ifaiah, " Thus seii:\l 

" faith the Lord God of Ifrael, and his 

" Redeemer the Lord of Hofts; I am 

" the firft and I am the laft ; and befide 

*' me there is no God. And who as I 

" ftiall call, and ihall declare it, and fet 

" it in order for me, fince I appointed 

" the ancient people ? and the things 

" that are coming and fhall come, let 

" them iTiew unto them/' " Fear ye 

" not," faith he to Jacob and his de- 

fcendants, " neither be afraid : have I 

" not told thee from that time and de- 

" clared it ? Ye are even my witnefles. 

" Is there a God befide me ? Yea, there 

" is no God, I know not any/' 

I am well aware, my beloved brethren, 
that by defcending more into particulars, 
I might bring you numerous and various 
proofs of the truth of the propoiition I 
undertook to maintain ; but, I hope and 
truft you are already convinced, that 
the fuperintendance of Providence in di- 
refting the affairs of the world, fo as to 
bring to pafs in due time every event, 
K 4 which 



On the Ixxiid Tfabn. 

which the Holy Spirit hath predi6led, 
is plainly to be feen in the hiftory of 
nations. All thofe events evidently lead 
to the final eftabliihrnent of the kingdom 
of Chnft. 

Our next enquiry is, concerning the 
nature of that kingdom, into which en- 
quiry, I hope by God's permiffion to 
enter, when we lhall affemble in this 
place, to celebrate the nativity of the 
Prince of Peace ; but, I muft at prefent 
clofe this difcourfe, with fome refle6iions 
relative to the condu6l which is to be 
recommended to Chriftians, in their in- 
tercourfe with that ancient nation, now 
fuffering under the vengeance of God. 

Thofe who have always been the moft 
bitter, and indeed the moft cruel againft 
the Jews, have been the enemies of the 
Chrifiian revelation. Hoping vainly to 
overthrow that, they have endeavoured 
to depreciate in every way the chara6ler 
of a people, to whofe ancient prophets 
conftant appeals are made by Chrift and 

his 



On the Ixxiid Pfahn. 

his Apoftles. They reprefent them to 
have always been in a ftate as abjeft as 
that in which they bow exiftj and their 
pretenlions to the divine favour, as httle 
fupported by their ancient, as they feem 
to be by their prefent iituation in the 
world. The depreffion of the Jews, and 
their fubliftence under it as a diftinft 
people among all nations, cannot be 
accounted for any otherwife, than in the 
way which our Scriptures plainly point 
out. Their hiftory relates, with unparal- 
leled fidelity, their former crimes, and 
the punifhments they drew upon that 
nation ; ours alone record that crime of 
unexampled guilt, for which the ven- 
geance of God is yet upon them, accord- 
ing to the impious prayer of their fore- 
fathers, " His blood be on us, and on 
" our children/' 

But let Chriftians remember always, 
that he who fuffered for their fakes, 
prayed even for thofe who put him to 
death. " Father, forgive them ; for 
" they know not what they do.'" Let 

them 



On the Ixxiid Pfalm. 

M. them confider alfo, as the Apoftle to the 
Romans teacheth, that " bhndnefs in 
" part is happened unto Ifrael, until the 
fulnefs of the Gentiles be come in; 
and that as concerning the Gofpel^ 
they are enemies for our fakes; but, 
" as touching the eleftion, they are be- 
loved for the fathers' fakes/' Confi- 
dering thefe things^ I fay, let us be far 
from cherilhing againft them a perfecuting 
fpirit ; but, let us teftify unto them that 
our prayers for their converfion are iin- 
cere, by exhibiting in our condu6l to 
them the nature of that vocation, with 
which we are called, in all patience, 
forbearance, and charity. Such condu6l 
as this on the part of Chriftians may, 
and God grant it may foon, be a fe- 
condary mean of recalling them to the 
faith and obedience of Jefus Chrift, to 
an acknowledgment of their own errors, 
and of the juftice, wifdom, and mercy 
of God's difpenfations, and lead them 
at length to acknowledge with us, 
in thefe words of St. Paul, " O the 
" depth of the riches both of the wif- 

" dom 



On the Ixxiid Pfalm. 139 

dom and knowledge of G od ; how un- s e r m. 
^' fearchable are his judgments, and his ^^^-^^ 
ways paft finding out !" 



SERMON 



SERMON IX. 



ON THE Ixxiid PSALM. 
PART III. 



Psalm Ixxii. 18, 19> 

Blejfed he the Lord God, even the God 
of Ifrael, which only doeth wonderous 
Things ; 

And blejfed he the Name of his Majejiy 
for ever : and all the Earth Jhall he 
filled with his Majejiy, Amen, Amen. 

The errors of mankind, relative even seem. 

IX 

to fubjefts in which they have felt them- .^.^^^ 
felves moft deeply interefted, have been 
almoft infinite. Whether the obje6l hath 
been the acquifition of fome expefted 

advantage, 



J 42 On the Ixxiid Tfalm, 

SERM. advantage, or deliverance from the ap- 
prehenfions of impending evil, their paf- 
iions and prejudices have at all times 
exerted a baneful influence on their judg- 
ment. The attachment of the heathen 
world to falfe oracles, which flattered 
their wiflies, is not more remarkable than 
the perverfenefs of the Jews, in mifun- 
derflanding and mifinterpreting the true 
ones, which evidently oppofed their vain 
and worldly hopes. We know even, that 
in fome inftances, this people were fo in- 
fatuated, as to requeft thofe who were 
called to the prophetic office, to falfify 
the predi6tions to be delivered by them, 
under the fanftion of Heaven, 

The prophet Ifaiah is commanded to 
record this againft them, " Write it,'" 
faith the Holy Spirit, " before them in 
" a table, and note it in a book, that it 
" may be for the time to come for ever 
" and ever : That this is a rebellious 
" people, lying children, children that 
" will not hear the law of the Lord : 
" Which fay to the feers, fee not; and 

" to 



On the Ixxiid Pfalm. 143 
" to the prophets, prophefy not unto us se^rm, 
" right things, fpeak unto us fmooth s^^v-w' 
" things, prophefv deceits/' It were to 
be wilhed, my beloved brethren, that 
Chriftians were exempt from the fame 
reproach ; but unhappily it is not fo. 
They have often been more ready to pre- 
fcribe laws to God's Providence, accord- 
ing to their own vain conceptions, than 
humbly to attend (as it became them) to 
the progrefs of the divine oeconomy ; and 
becaufe the fucceffion of events has not 
correfponded with their own notions of 
what would become the Author of all 
wifdom, have given but too much en- 
couragement to thofe impious perfons^ 
who in our time fo perfe&ly fulfil the 
prophecy of St. Peter, * ^' There fnall 
" come in the laft days fcoffers, walking 
" after their own lufts, and faying, AVhere 
" is the promife of his coming ? for fmce 
" the fathers fell afleep ; all things con- 
" tinue as they were from the beginning 

* 2 Pet, iii. 3. 



On the Ixxiid Pfalm. 

" of the creation/' The Apoftle fpeak=» 
ing of thefe^ defcribes them as wilhngly 
ignorant of the creation of all things by 
the word of God, of the deftruftion of 
the earth by the deluge, and of its re- 
fervation unto fire unto the day of judg- 
ment. He reminds us, " that one day 
is with the Lord as a thoufand years, 
" and a thoufand years as one day f 
and affures us, that " the Lord is not 
" flack, concerning his promife, but is 
" long-fuffering to us-ward, not willing 
" that any fliould perifli ; but that all 
" fliould come to repentance/' 

Voluntary ignorance of the true nature 
of God's dealings with the world, hath, 
you fee, been the foundation of unbehef, 
among thofe who have enjoyed the ad- 
vantao:e of revelation at all times. To 
avoid this, and its dreadful confequences, 
let us faithfully enquire into the nature 
of that kingdom of Jefus Chrifl:, which 
we daily implore the Almighty to 
haften. 



Notwith- 



On the Ixxiid Vfalm. 145 

Notwithftancling the magnificence with serm. 
^vhich it is defcribed, not only in the ^'.^ 
Pfalm which my text clofes^ but m many 
other prophetic parts of Scripture, our 
Lord hath affured us, that " the king- 
" dom of God cometh not with obfer- 
" vation : Neither fliall they fay, Lo 
" here ! or Lo there ! for behold," faith 
he, " the kingdom of God is within 
" you/' Since the firft preaching of 
Chriftianity, no one can poffibly know 
the whole efFecl of its influence upon 
mankind. Its general effeft, in reforming 
the manners of the world, has extended 
even to the conduct of many individuals, 
who are profefied unbelievers, for all the 
principal virtues, of which thefe men boaft, 
derive not their origin from mere huma- 
nity, or the benevolence of man's nature, 
but from the precepts which our divine 
Mafter hath given, and from the fplendid 
examples which his faithful Difciples have 
exhibited, in their obedience to thefe 
precepts ; and the truth of this our own 
experience juftifies, for we all have feen 
and know^, what confequences the entire 
L reje6lion 



146 On the Ixxiid FJalm. 

SERM. rejeftion of Chrift hath upon whole 
K^^^^^ nations, how favage and cruel they be- 
come, though they have the name of 
virtue continually in their mouths, and 
pretend to have the general happinefs of 
men for their objefl:» When they have 
none to lead them, who dare to profefs 
their reverence for the Gofpel, or that 
they confider it as the fapreme rule of 
afition, W'hen they have none w^ho with 
fagacity, refolution, and perfeverance, 
dare to detefl and obviate the infidious 
attempts of the enemies of their prefent 
and eternal peace, each man becomes a 
law to himlelf, if that may be called a 
law which is perpetually variable ; and a 
difcordant jarring of opinions, of errors, 
and e\en of crimes, is the produft of 
fuch univerfal licentioufnefs. 

Yet we muft not conclude, that the 
kingdom of Chriit is abfolutely extirpated, 
even from among a people fo abandoned. 
There muft doubtlefs be many in whofe 
hearts " Chrift dwelleth by faith in 



Eph. iii. 17. 



whole 



0?i the Ixxiid Pfiib?2. i47 
whofe hearts " the peace of God ruleth*;'' serm. 
who are " comforted," and on account 
of their patience " ftabUfhed who, even 
though they may " fuffer for righteouf- 
^' neiV fake/' efteem themfelves happy in 
that very refpeft, and without being 
afraid of the terror of their enemies, or 
troubled, " fan6lify the Lord God in 
" their hearts/' In thefe very countries, 
where the power of Chrift is moft appa- 
rent, its greateft influence exifts among 
thofe, who, from lowly fituations or hum- 
ble difpofitions, are rarely drawn into 
public notice ; it exifts in the praftice of 
virtues, which fhun public applaufe, in 
the retirement of fecret devotion, or in 
the receffes of the penitent and pious 
heart. There that kingdom prevails and 
increafes, which efcapes human obferva- 
tion. There its wonderful progrefs will 
be difcovered to have been made " in 
" that day, when God fhall make mani- 
" feft the counfels of the hearts, and 

* Col. iii. 5= 



when 



us 



On the ixxlid Ffalni, 



SEUM *■ wlieii every man (liall have praife of 
Jtw God.'V 



In faying this, I would not be under- 
ftood to mean, that the manifeftation of 
Chrift's authority as univerfal King, will 
not appear until the day of judgment. 
There feems to be great analogy between 
the coming of Chrift, to take vengeance 
of his enemies in the deftrufilion of Je- 
rufalem, and his final coming in glory to 
vindicate his eleft, and for the final pu- 
nifhment of his foes. His prophecies, 
evidently accomplifhed on the Jews in the 
deftruffion of their temple and city, feem 
plainly to point to a fecondary and ple- 
nary completion in the deftruclion of thi^ 
world. Before the former of thefe vifi- 
tations, our Lord reproached the hypo- 
critical Scribes and Pharifees, that they 
could not " difcern the figns of the 
" times.'' To his faithful Difciples he 
defcribed certain events, which were to 
lead to it, faying, " When thefe things 
" begin to come to pafs, then look up, 
" and lift up your heads, for your re- 

" demption 



On the Ixxiid Pfahn. 

demption draweth nigh/' He alfo gave 
them direftions to " flee unto the moun- 
" tains from Jerufalem and we are 
well affured by hiftory, that the Chriftians 
took advantage of the drawing off of 
Gallus', the Roman general's, army, from 
the fiege, which opportunity feems to 
have been afforded them by an efpecial 
difpenfation of Providence, and thereby 
efcaped all the miferies fuftained by the 
Jews. In like manner without prefump- 
tion, I truft, we may fuppofe that thofe 
who fliall difcern the figns of the ap- 
proaching times, will take refuge in the 
" mountain of the Lord's houfe, which 
" lhall be efl:ablifhed on the tops of the 
" mountains, and be exalted above the 
" hills to which, in the laft days, " all 
" nations {hall flow/' Others there may 
be, who will not take warning from the 
evident figns of approaching judgment, 
who will be overtaken in the manner 
which our Lord hath defcribed, as thofe 
were in the days of Noah, and thofe in 
the days of Lot. " So fl:iall it be," faith 
our Lord, " in the day in which the Son 
L 3 " of 



150 On the Ixxiid Pfalm. 

sERBi. " of iiian is revealed;" a predifiion, not 
^,,.v^ only fulfilled, when he came to take 
vengeance on the nation, who put him 
to death ; but to be in a more exalted 
and fecondary fenfe accomplifhed, " when/^ 
as St. Peter faith, " his glory ftiall be 
" revealed, and the faints fliall be glad 
' " alfo with exceeding joy/' 

But what, it may be alked, will be the 
fource and caufe of this joy ? It will be 
no lefs than this, that they will fee all 
their hopes realized, the final prevalence 
of truth, and the eftablifhment of their 
divine Mailer's univerfal dominion, on 
the ruins of the tyranny of Satan ; that 
they will fee the triumph of the juft, 
when the people fliall be judged according 
unto right, and the poor be defended ; 
when the lalutary eflfefts of his dominion, 
which began to be difplayed, when the 
Son of God fir ft came upon earth, and 
when the Spirit defcended on thofe who 
were to preach his Gofpel, will refrefli 
the whole earth like drops of water, and 
that peace which was proclaimed by an- 

p^els 



On the Ixxiid Pfalm, 151 

gels at his nativity, ftiall be multiplied serm. 
even to abundance, and continue for ever. v,#pv^ 
For " his dominion ftiall be from one fea 
" to the other, from the flood to the 
" world's end " 

" They that dwell in the wildernefs," 
even thofe favage natives, who are yet 
uninformed of the falvation of man through 
Chrift Jefus, " ftiall kneel before him, his 
" enemies,'' thofe who, from vain phi! ofophy 
and perverfenefs of heart, have oppofed 
his rule, " ftiall," like the ferpent who 
tempted man, be obliged to " lick the 
^' duft." With one general confent ftiall 
his name be praifed. " All kings ftiall 
" fall down before him, all nations ftiall 
" do himfervice;" or, as the holy Pfalmift 
elfewhere emphatically expreffes it, all 
^' the ends of the world" (who have in- 
deed forgotten God) " ftiall remember 

themfelves, and be turned unto the 
" Lord, and all the kindreds of the na- 
" tions ftiall worftiip before him." 



L 4 



0)1 the Ixxiid Pfalm. 

Not only the Gentile world, but the 
chofen feed alfo, at length convinced of 
the truth of that Gofpel, which they have 
hitherto oppofed, and of the divinity of 
that Perfon whom their fathers rejected ; 
abiding no longer in unbelief^ fliall be 
again " grafFed in, and foj'' as the Apoftle 
laith to the Romans, " all Ifrae! ftiall be 
" faved/' according to Ifaiah's prophecyj 
" There ihall come out of Sion the 
" Deliverer, and flball turn away ungod- 
linefs from Jacob." Then fhall all the 
children of men join in that fong, w4iich 
has been the fubjeft of our meditations. 
Tranfported with joy at the accomplilh- 
ment of all God's promifes, they fhall 
exclaim, " Bleffed be the Lord God, 
*' even the God of Ifrael; w^hich only 
doeth w'onderous things ; and bleffed 
be the* name of his Majefty for ever, 
for all the earth is now filled with his 
Majefty. Amen. Amen." 

I hope and truft, my beloved brethren, 
that in fetting before your eyes this glo- 
rious profpect, I have in no inltance 

followed 



On the Ixxiid 'Pfalm. 153 

followed the impulfes of my own ima- s^^^^- 
gination; bat have eftabhfhed what 1 
have ojfFered to your confideratlon on 
Holy Scriptiirej taken in its own indlf- 
putable meaning. Chriftians indeed, who 
believe faithfully, will readily grant that 
nothing can exceed the hope that is given 
unto them, through him who took our 
nature upon him, that we might become 
the children of his Father by adoption 
and grace. They muft heartily join with 
our church in this petition, ' that it may 
^ pleafe God, of his gracious goodnefs, 
' fhortly to accomplifh the number of his 
' eleft, and haften his kingdom ; that 
* they, with all thofe who are departed 
' in the true faith of his holy name, may 
' have their perfeft confummation and 
^ blifs, both in body and foul, in his 
^ eternal and everlafting glory/ 

In the mean time, let us at prefent 
avail ourfelves of the privilege of cele- 
brating with due reverence, the nativity 
of our bleffed Lord. It is a celebration 
in which the bleffed angels themfelves, 

who 



On the Ixxiid Ffalm. 

who clefire to look into the myftery of 
the redemption of man, through the in- 
carnation of the Son of God, rejoiced 
to join when having declared to the 
Ihepherds thofe " glad tidings of joy, 
" which fhould be to all people/' they 
fung " Glory to God in the higheft, and 
" in earth peace, good-will towards men." 
From hence ev^ery individual may con- 
clude, in what manner he fhould teftify 
the fincerity of his joy, on the renewal 
of this folemnity. By the promotion of 
the glory of God, in ftanding forth as 
the advocate of true religion, againft all 
fcoffers and gain-fayers ; by profeffmg 
moft decifively and unequivocally his hope 
in Chrift, and his refolution to adhere 
to his faith in all dangers, under all trials, 
and againft all oppolition. By the pro- 
motion of peace on earth, in all patience, 
forbearance, and forgivenefs towards thofe 
who trefpafs againft him, by afting as a 
peace-maker between thofe who are at 
variance ; by endeavouring to render 
men at peace with themfelves, in advifing 
and inftrufting them how they may be 

at 



On the Ixxiid Ffahn, 155 

at peace with God. And laftly, by lliew- serm. 
ing good will towards men, in improving 
in the practice of every focial duty, every 
work of loving-kindnefs and charity, be- 
ing convinced that God is not unrigh- 
" teous to forget that work and labour 

of love which they ftiew to his here, 
" who minifter to the faints,'' and prove 
themfelves to be fmcere " followers of 
" them, who through faith and patience 

inherit the promifes/' 



SERMON 



SERMON X. 1 

ON THE GENERAL FAST, 1796. 



Psalm cxxx. 4. 

There is Mercy with thee : therefore JJialt 
thou be feared. 

There fcarcely exifts a more ftriking 
proof of God's moral government of the 
world, than that, which appears in his 
righteous difpenfations, towards thofe who 
negleft his commands, or deny his au- 
thority. If our heavenly Father, inftead 
of recalling his rebellious children to a 
juft fenfe of duty, by warnings, examples, 
or chaftifements, were always to deliver 
them up to the error of their own ways, 
the miferies of mankind accumulated upon 
iheir heads, by their own obftinate per- 

verfenefsj 



0)1 the General Faft, 1796. 

verfenefsj would lamentably teftifj the 
operation of inexorable juftice ; but, fc> 
great is the loving-kindnefs of God to- 
wards men, that he permits fuch only 
as are abfolutely reprobate to accomplifli 
their own deftru6lion ; as an example and 
admonition to others, who may yet be 
reclaimed. In thefe wife and gracious 
difpenfations, we plainly perceive the di- 
vine juftice tempered with mercy. 

Inftances, however, are by no means 
rare of individuals, wdio, having done 
defpite unto the fpirit of grace, have 
Mien into the hands of the living God, 
to whom vengeance belongeth ; and the 
hiftory of the nations of ancient time^ 
together with thofe judgments which are 
now in the earth, prefent before our eyes 
moft tremendous effefts of the rebellion 
of man, againft the divine Majefty. 

When the Holy Scripture informs us, 
that the w^hole race of man was once 
fo corrupt, that every imagination of 
" the thoughts of his heart was only evil 

continually,'^ 



On the General Faji, 1796. 159 

continually/^ fo that the Lord deter- serm. 
mined to deftroy man and beaft, the ^^^^ 
creeping thing, and the fowls of the 
air, from the face of the earth ; we 
are difmayed at the dread fulnefs and ex- 
tent of the puniftiment ; but, when we re- 
fle6l alfo, how the " long-fufFering of God 
" waited in the days of Noah, while the 
" ark was preparing," we muft conclude, 
that their provocations muft have been 
heinous indeed, before they drew down 
upon men this final judgment. 

Yet, of how many nations fmce thofe 
days do the fame Scriptures inform us, 
who having ceafed to " glorify God, and 
" having become vain in their imagina- 
" tions,'^ at length were fmitten with de- 
ftru6lion. Where are now the cities of 
the plain ? A deadly lake of fulphure- 
ous waters ftands a perpetual memorial 
of their crimes, and the divine vengeance. 
Where is Nineveh, that exceeding 
great city, which though it fafted, and 
repented at the preaching of Jonah, 
and was fpared becaufe it turned from 

its 



On the General Fuji, 1796'. 

its evil waj^5 relapfed into all its fins? 
At this day its place cannot be found. 
The enquiring traveller cannot afcertain 
which are the ruins of a citA^^ which was 
once of three day's journey. Where is 
Babylon, once the queen and glory of 
nations ? It is funk, and never more 
fliall rife from evil. It never will be 
inhabited, neither will it be dwelt in 
from generation to generation; the Ara- 
bian pitcheth not his tent there ; no 
fhepherd maketh his fold there ; but wild 
beafts of the defart he there ; its houfes 
are full of doleful beafts ; and poifonous 
ferpents of incurable malignity dwell 
among the ruins of its once pleafant 
palaces. " And how art thou fallen, O 
" daughter of Jerufalem,'' who, while thy 
God was thy defender, didft defpife, and 
laugh to fcorn even the great king of 
Aflyria, the conqueror of the gods of the 
nations ! " Behold, thy land is left unto 
^' thee defolate; firangers devour it in 
" your prefence, and it is defolate, as 
" overthrown by ftrangers," and fo will it 
remain, till " the times of the Gentiles 

" be 



0?i the General Faji, 1796. l6l 

be accomplifhed, and the fulnefs of the serm. 

Gentiles be come in/' Before that ^^^^v^ 
period, will many a city, forgetting the 
Almighty, difdaining his authority, defy- 
ing his power, and following the vain 
imaginations of men, in preference to 
God's revealed will, at length be permit- 
ted to fill up the meafure of its iniquit}^ 
" Then {hall Jehovah do unto them, as 

he hath alfo done unto thee; for he 
" brins^eth them dow^n that dwell on 
" high ; the lofty city he layeth it low ; 
" he layeth it low even to the ground, 
" he bringeth it even to the dull/' 

It is the good pleafure of God, that 
we Ihould live in moft eventful times ; 
when the pride of man, " fpeaking,'' as 
the Apoftle faith, " great fwelling words,'*" 
hath prefumed to exalt human reafon 
above the wifdom of the fupreme God, 
and, under pretence of deftroying tem- 
poral oppreffion, hath rebelled againft the 
divine government, and denied the au- 
thority and fuperintendance of the eternal 
Ruler of the univerfe. The cities of 
M ancient 



071 the General Fajl, 1796. 

ancient days, whatever were their con- 
ceptions, in their idolatry itfelf, acknow- 
ledged fome fuperior Being. The wor- 
fliippers of fire, of Moloch, or of Baal ; 
thole even who adored the creature in- 
ftead of the Creator, looked up to fome 
fuperior for protection, and deprecated 
the wrath of fome fovereign judge. 
Now, perverted reafon, calling itfelf phi- 
lofophy, ufurps the throne of heaven. It 
treacheroufly began its delufions, by in- 
finuating itfelf into the hearts of men, 
infnared in the toils of fuch vices, as 
revelation reprefents in their true and 
odious form. It alienated all their af- 
fe&ions from this faithful advifer. It 
taught them to defpife the wifdom of her 
precepts, and encouraged them to queftion 
the origin of her authority. It falfely 
recommended itfelf as an anxious and 
a tender friend of mankind. It pro- 
mifed, if it Ihould be the chofen guardian 
of mens* rights and happinefs, to change 
an iron into a golden fceptre, and to 
hold it only to fecure the equal claims of 
every individual, to his full lhare of what 

it 



On the General Faji, 1796. 

it ungratefully called the bounties of 
nature: With fuch profeffions it hath 
deceived but too many, or rather, to ufe 
the words of the prophet Obadiah, * 
" the pride of their own hearts hath 
" deceived them/' In their hearts they 
have fet up this idol ; and w e are at this 
day lamenting the effefts of its ufurped 
power, and deprecating the extenfion of 
its influence to ourfelves. 

Deep as the root of this evil lies, in 
the darkeft receffes of the impenitent 
heart, and cherifhed there by all the 
worft propenfities of our corrupt nature, 
there is little caufe of furprize at the 
rapidity of its growth, or the malignant 
quality of its fruits. For, notwithftand- 
ing all the pretenfions of the apoftles ot 
infidelity to the merit of candid exa- 
mination into the evidences of Chriftianity, 
their general conduft hath abundantly 
teftified, that their objeft hath been ra- 

* Obadiah 3. 



ther 



164 0?i the General Fq/i, 1796. 

SERM. ther to emancipate themfelves from the 
v^.^ reftriftions which it impofes upon the 
appetites, than to eftabhfli in their own 
minds the foundation of thofe hopes, 
which moft powerfully encourage the be- 
liever to the praflice of felf-denial, and 
the exercife of the fublimeft virtues. 

The fubftitution of ridicule for argu- 
ment, in the difcuffion of a point, in 
which human happinefs, both prefent and 
future, is fo deeply concerned, is an in- 
fult upon the common fenfe of mankind ; 
but yet this v/eapon hath been ufed 
without fcruple by thofe, who have pro^ 
feffed to reftore reafon to the full exer- 
tion of all thofe powers, of which, as they 
pretend, Ihe hath been deprived by the 
advocates of faith. It hath been ufed 
with fatal fuccefs, among the light and 
unthinking, among thofe fuperficial ob-^ 
fervers, who prefer elegance of expreffioa 
to ftrength of argument, and with all, 
who, alarmed at the ferious reflections, 
which will fometimes intrude in the in- 
tervals 



On the General Faft, 1796. 165 

tervals of diffipation, wifli not to be- serm. 
lieve, left they fliould alfo tremble. 

If a charafter hath exifted, among the 
apoftles of infidehtj, untainted with any 
grofs immorahties, and departing out of 
the world apparently infenfible of the 
injuries fuftained by mankind, from the 
efFe6l of his writings, the manner of his 
departure hath been difplayed as a proof 
of his own conviftion of the truth of his 
doftrines, and the honefty of his inten- 
tions ; though the moft artful fophiftry 
has been repeatedly dete6ted, even in his 
attempts to fhake all the foundations of 
hiftorical teftimony. But if, through the 
operation of the divine judgments, any 
of thefe men, at the approach of their 
diifolution, have perceived the vain glory 
which dazzled their imaginations, fud- 
denly extinguifhed among the horrors of 
unavailing remorfe ; if, in the agonies of 
terror, they have vv'ifhed to employ the 
few fleeting moments they had left in 
warning mankind, againft the delufions 
praftifed during their whole lives ; if, iti 
M 3 the 



166 On the General Faft, 1796* 

SERM. the bitternefs of defpair, they have yet 
fupphcated the mercy of Him, whofe 
name they branded with infamy, and 
"whofe divine rehgion they confpired to 
crufli, a veil is caft, by their difciples, 
over this laft fcene ; or, if its terrors 
ftiould have been expofed to the world, 
the fafits are induftrioufly contradifited 
with every artifice of the moft unprinci- 
pled mifreprefentation. 

Happy indeed, would it have been for 
mankind, if the influence of falfe prin- 
ciples could have terminated with the 
lives of their teachers, or been checked 
by the judgments, which have befallen 
many, who have been the fanguinary 
agents of their dreadful purpofes : but, 
this " myftery of iniquity hath worked'^ 
fo long ; it hath produced among men 
fuch an aggregate of various and enor- 
mous guilt; it hath fo broken the eafy 
yoke of Chrifl:, and fo burft the bonds 
of human fociety, that it feems as if its 
violence would be permitted to rage, till 
all men ihall be finally convinced, if not 

by 



On the General F:(/f, 1790. 1^7 
by fatal experience, by the farvej^ of serm. 

the miferies brought upon the earth, that — - 
not only the profeiiion, but the praftice 
of Chriftianitv can alone reftore to them 
the enjoyments of temporal eafe, and the 
hopes of eternal blifs. 

A candid and diligent examination of 
ourfelves, that we may difcover how far 
our praftice correfponds with our pro- 
feffions, is therefore, at this time^ become 
a neceffary, an indifpenfable duty. Be- 
holding, and lamenting the dreadful ef- 
fects of the prefumptuous confidence of 
others in their own fallible reafon, it 
furely becomes us to fubmit ourfelves in 
all things to Him, who " refiiteth the 

proud, and giveth grace to the humble/' 
thus " calling down imaginations, and 

every high thing that exalte th itfelf 

againft the knowledge of God, and 
" bringing into captiyity every thought 
" to the obedience of Chrift;'' and 
though it muft not be diffembled^ that 
in trvino; our condu6t by the lav/s of that 
obedience, we fhall difcover in it but too 
M 4 manv 



On the General fojl, 1796. 

many errors, which muft fill us with 
concern ; though, in weighing the talents 
intrufted to our improvement, againft 
the produce they have yielded under our 
application of them, we fhall have but 
too much reafon to pronounce ourfelves 
unprofitable fervants ; though, in reflect- 
ing on the bleffings we have experienced 
beyond other nations, particularly the 
knowledge and undifturbed profefiion of 
God's facred truth, we mufl with deep 
compunftion of heart, confefs that we 
have too often turned our backs on God, 
and fought peace and fecurity in our 
own inventions ; yet there exifls no caufe 
for defpondency. If we were to fufFer 
that to overwhelm us, it would be a 
fatal addition to all former errors, and 
imply a diftruft of Him, in whofe mercy 
we may find refuge, not only from the 
violence of thofe, to whom mercy is un- 
known, but from thofe judgments which 
wdll fall on none, but the obftinately im- 
penitent. 



The 



Oil the General Faji, 179^. 

The prophet Malachi informs us, that s 
there were fome in his days, as there 
are in our own, " who called the proud 
" happy, faying, yea, they that work 
" wickednefs are fet up, yea, they that 
" tempt God are even delivered ; but 
" thofe who feared the Lord fpake often 
" one to another : and the Lord heark- 
" ened, and heard it, and a book of 

remembrance was written before him, 

for them that feared the Lord, and 
" that thought upon his name. And 
" they fhall be mine, faith the Lord of 
^' Hofts, in that day, when I make up 

my jewels, and I will fpare them, as 
" a man fpareth his own fon, that 
" ferveth him. Then ftiall ye return^ 
^' and difcern between the righteous and 
" the wicked ; between him that ferveth 
" God, and him that ferveth him 
" not." 

" But, faith the Lord,'' by the mouth 
of another prophet ; " Am I a God at 
" hand, and not a God afar off?'' Can 
fuppofej that He who from all ages 

bath 



170 Oji the General Faft, 1796. 

SERM. hath had mercy on them who feared 
\^^^^ him, will neglefl: them now ?- Can we 
fuppofe, that He who protected the pious 
Hezekiah, from the fury of the blaf- 
pheming Affyrian, will fuffer the fincere 
penitent to weep in vain, ' defpife the 
^ fighing of the contrite heart, or the 
* defire of fuch as are forrowful ?' It is 
the wifli of his enemies, and ours, to 
defpoil us of our hope in Him. They 
well know, we fliould then " be a people 
" of fmall power,'' " that w^e fliould be 
difmayed and confounded, as the grafs 
" of the field, and the green herb, as 
the grafs on the houfe top, and as corn 
blafted before it be grown up/' But 
let us remember, that " he knoweth the 
" abode of our enemies, and their going 
" out, and their coming in, and their 
" rage againft him" 

Let us therefore, often " fpeak to each 
" other,'' fupporting each other's faith, 
and truft in his mercy, and Almighty 
power, that " he may hearken and hear 
" it, and that our names may be written 

" in 



On the General Fajl^ 1796. 
in the book of his remembrance/' 
among thofe, who in the midft of dan- 
gers and trials, have " feared him, and 
" thought upon his name and let us 
be fully perfuaded, that, if we thus turn 
unto him, with all our hearts, we fliall in 
God's good time, " difcern,^^ by the righ- 
teous decrees of his over-ruling Provi- 
dence, " between him that now ferveth 
" God, and him that ferveth him not/' 



SERMON 



SERMON XI. 



THE EXCELLENCE OF THE ENGLISH 
LAWS. 



Deut. iv. 6. 

Keep therefore and do tliem^ for this is 
your TVifdom and your Underjianding 
in the fight of the Nations^ which /liall 
hear all thefe Statutes, and fay, Surely 
this great Nation is a wife and under- 
fianding People, 

-A. STRONG and permanent impreffion serm. 
upon the hearts of men, of the bleffmgs v^^^^^ 
beftowed upon them by divine Provi- 
dence, mutt always be attended with the 
beft effefl: on the happinefs of individuals, 
the peace and comfort of fociety ; and 
w^t the fame time, in encouraging that 

inefiimable 



174 Excellence of the Englijli Laws. 

SERM. ineftlmable hope, without which temporal 
advantages would be of httle value. 

To produce and firengthen fuch im- 
prelTions on mens^ minds, is a duty in- 
cumbent on every Chriftian minifter, in 
obedience to the dictates of that Gofpel 
of peace, which we are called to promote 
in the world ; and happy fhould every 
one of us think himfelf, who is efpecially 
appointed, as I now am, to reprefent to 
his audience the value of any providential 
bleffing, in the prefence of thofe, to 
whofe condu6l in the adminiftration of 
it, he may fafely allude for inftances in 
fupport of his affertions, and in confirma- 
tion of his arguments. 

The great legiflator of Ifrael, with 
that ftedfaft confidence, which nothing 
lefs than a conviflion of the divine au- 
thority of his commiffion could infpire, 
thus appeals to the judgment of that 
people, in favour of the precepts he de- 
livered to them. " What nation is there,'* 
faith Mofes, " fo great, that hath ftatutes 

and 



E^Tcellence of the Engli/Ii Laws, 

and judgments fo righteous as all this 
" law, which I fet before you this day 
A long fucceffion of ages has eftablifhed 
the juftice of this folemn appeal ; notwith- 
fi^nding the prejudices againft the Jews, 
adopted by the heathen nations of old ; 
notwithftanding the enmity againft them, 
and their legiflator, cherifbed by the 
modern opponents of Revelation. The 
peculiar fituation and circumftances of 
that favoured people ; the beneficial caufe 
of their feleftion from the reft of man- 
kind ; the whole ferles of their hiftory, 
and even the manner of their exiftence, 
at prefent difperfed throughout the re- 
gions of the world, each fupply tefti- 
monies innumerable of the veracity of 
their legifiatcr, of the excellence and 
propriety of their inftitutions, and of the 
divine infpiration of thofe prophecies, 
which promifed rewards to their obedi- 
ence, or denounced judgments againft 
their rebellion. 

In our ovv^n time, every malevolent 
effort hath been exerted to vilify the le- 

giilator, 



Excellence of the EngliJIi LazoL 

giflator, and to degrade the people. 
Through them an attack was thus made 
on Chriftianity, by perfons, who were 
well aware that the conneftion was in« 
diffoluble, between the types and pro- 
phecies of the Old Teftament, and the 
aftoniftiing completions in the New ; but, 
God be praifed, there have not been men 
wanting able to dete6l the ignorance of 
the moft prefuming, the falfehood of the 
apparently candidj or the malice of the 
afFe£ledly benevolent, who endeavoured 
to reprefent all revealed religion, (like 
the Roman hiftorian,) as abjeft and de- 
ft ru6live fuperftition. In all thefe con- 
troverfies, however, the excellence of the 
Mofaic inftitutions has been more and 
more difplayed ; while the ftudy of an- 
tiquity, and the inveftigation of local 
circumftances, have fupplied as ftrong 
confirmation of the fa6ls recorded by the 
hiftorian, as the confide ration of the con- 
neftion between them, and his precepts, 
has afforded of his pretenfions, as a le- 
giflator authorized by God himfelf. 



Our 



Excellence of th6 EngliJIi Laws^. 

Our blefled Saviour, in his perfe6l fer- 
mon on the mountain, folemnly affured 
bis difciples that he came not to detract 
any thing from the rule of duties towards 
God and man, prefcribed by Mofes, or 
to weaken the bonds of moral obhgation ; 
on the contrary, he not only eftablifhed, 
but improved the rule, and ftrengthened 
every focial tie. " Think not/' he faid, 

that I am come to deftrov the law and 
*^ the prophets : I am not come to de- 

ftroy^ but to fulfil/' His doctrines 
went to the improvement of the heai^t 
itfelf, to create in it a perpetual difpo- 
lition, to promote the glory of God, and 
good-will towards men, and accordingly, 
every fyftem of jurifprudence that has 
been framed in any Chriftiari nation fince 
the promulgation of the gofpel, has de- 
rived from it a fpirit of benevolence, and 
the adminiftration of juftice has exhibited 
manifeftations of a fimilar fpirit, in pro- 
portion as true religion has prevailed 
among any people. St. Paul, writing to 
the Corinthians, earneftly urged the early 
converts to refer their differences concern- 

N ing 



Excellence of the Englijli Laws. 

ing temporal poffeffions to perfons influ- 
enced by that benign Spirit. " Dare 
" any of you/' he fays, " having a 
" matter againft another, go to law be- 
" fore the unjuft, and not before the 
" Saints The Apoftle here calls thofe 
who prefided in his time, in the heathen 
or even the Jewifh tribunals, the unjuft; 
Of thefe the former were ignorant of the 
principles of true religion, upon which 
the perfect adminiftration of juftice muft 
be founded, and among the latter^ thefe 
principles were overwhelmed under the 
mafs of traditionary opinions. From nei^ 
ther could the Chriftian expeft an unpre- 
judiced decifion. But if the aggrieved 
perfon, in obedience to our Lord's owri 
directions ^, after private remonftrance, 
application to arbitrators^ and laftly, to 
the converts in general, (by him called 
the Churchy and in this paffage of St. 
Paul the Saints^) could not prevail upon 
his adverfary to do him juftice, the re- 
fra6lory perfon was to be expelled from 



Matt, xviii. 15. 



the 



Excellence of the Englijli Laws. 179 

the community, and to be efteemed as a seum. 
heathen and a publican. This was all s,^,.^^ 
that could be done in controverfies be- 
tween Chriftians, till the laws became 
fubjeft to Chriji himfelf, and the admi* 
niftrators of thofe laws believers in his 
holy name, attached to his gofpel, and 
governed in the execution of their moft 
important office, by the promifes and the 
warnings declared in holy Scripture, by 
our Lord, or under the authority of his 
Holy Spirit. 

To trace the progreffive efFefts of 
Chriftianity in the amelioration of human 
laws, would demand as much knowledge 
of them, and their hiftory, and as much 
inlight into the human mind as thofe 
poffefs, before whom I am fpeaking« 
This would indeed be a fubjefl moft 
worthy of the pen of an able and pious 
lawyer, and his labour to illuftrate it 
would be in the higheft degree beneficial 
to the community. It would fupply moft 
fatisfa6tory information ; it would coun- 
teraft many groundlefs prejudices ; and it 
N 2 would 



Excellence of the EngliJIi Laws, 

would convince many of the value of 
thofe wife and beneficial inftitutions, 
which even in this country, are by 
no means univerfally efteemed in any 
degree, to be compared with their incal- 
culable value* 

The preacher will not, however, be 
cenfured as prefumptuous, when he 
alierts, that it is his firm belief that the 
refult of a deep confideration of the laws 
of his country, in this point of view muft 
be, that the words applied by Mofes in 
the text, to the fons of Ifrael, w^ould, 
with the utmoft propriety, be applied to 
ourfelves. " This is your wifdom, and 
" your underftanding, in the fight of the 
" nations, which hear all thefe ftatutes, 
" and fay. Surely this great nation is a 
" wife and underftanding people/' For 
though we cannot affert with the fons 
of Ifrael, that our ftatutes are of divine 
authority, we can maintain that our laws 
are founded upon that pure faith and per- 
fe6t morality, which are derived from the 
Gofpel, " the fountain of living water," 
' Our 



Excellence of the EngliJJi Laws. 181 

Our laws alfo are not the refiilt of the serm. 
fpeculations of theorifts, or the imaginary 
refinements of a conceited philofophy, 
they are the grand effeOi of the wifdom 
and experience of ages. From a fuc- 
ceffion, and variety of events, they have 
received continual improvement, and every 
individual can now look to them with 
infalhble truft, for the proteftion of his 
property, his perfon, his chara6ler, and 
tlis conftitutional rights. 

There are, I am well aware, but too 
many who are fond of difcovering ble- 
miflies and imperfeflions in our laws^ 
and who blufli not to propofe to the 
people their own crude opinions, deco- 
rated with the fafliionable phrafes of 
modern innovation, in oppofition to that 
profound wifdom, in which our laws in 
general have originated ; but I dare ap- 
peal to any learned and pious man, 
whofe time and abiUties have been de- 
voted to the arduous inveftigation of a 
fubjeft, fo important to the community, 
and to individuals, to decide whether or 
N 3 not. 



182 Excellence of the EngUjh Laws. 

SERM. not, the laws of this country juftly de- 
ferve the title of an ineftimable blefling 
conferred upon it, and whether they do 
not exhibit an indifputable proof of a Su- 
perintending providence, watching over 
the interefts of a people, among whom 
pure religion, and real liberty, have been 
preferved unimpaired amidft the con- 
vulfions and diftra6i:ions of neighbouring 
nations. 

Little, however, would have availed 
the excellence of our laws, if the admi- 
niftration of them had not been worthy 
of thofe laws themfelves. It does not 
become us to flatter men in authority ; 
but it is our bounden duty, to give 
them their due honour. It becomes us 
intrepidly to meet the obloquy, and 
even the violence of all, who are ene- 
mies to fuperior ftation, and who hate 
the power which they have but too 
much reafon to fear. It is our duty to 
encourage every one, who is " fubjecl, 
" not only for wrath, but for confcience 
" fake/^ to look up with affeOionate 

veneration 



Excellence of the Eiiglif/i Laws. 18S 

veneration to the magiftrate, who proves, s$rm, 
in the execution of his high office, that v«*=s/«w 
he is in truth " the minifter of God to 
" him for good and the minifters of 
the Gofpel have reafon to praife God, 
that he hath put it into the hearts of thofe 
who in our days have fo meritorioufly 
prefided in the tribunal of Juftice, to con- 
cur with the chriftian teacher, in rebuking 
vice, and in the encouragement of piety 
and virtue. This is by no means an in- 
vafion of our province. If the decifions 
of the law, in matters of property or its 
fentences, even the moft juftly fevera, 
were pronounced with indifference, with a 
cold infenfibility as to the caufes or. the 
confequences of human aftions ; would it 
not be often, and too generally fuppofed, 
that the penalty was a full compenfation 
for the offence, and that the guilty had 
not ftill another tribunal to dread, before 
which the fecrets of all hearts will be 
made manifeft, and before which con*- 
demnation will be final. But when the 
magiftrate profeffes himfelf to be the fer- 
vant of God, zealous for the faith as it is 
N 4 in 



184 Edcdlence of the EngUJIi Laz^s. 

SERM. in Chrift, fincerely interefted in the cor** 
v,i,-v^ refticn of vice, and refolute to controul 
its prefumption, and punifh its extrava- 
gancies, however elevated the rank of the 
offender may be : When he folemnly tefti- 
fies his approbation of Chriftian virtues, 
eminently difplayed in public life, or 
drawn forth out of modeft retirement, in 
the inveftigation of {<i&,s.j before the court 
where he prefides ; when he takes care 
that with the fagacity and induftry of 
fuch inveftigation, Chriftian charity fhall 
always be preferved ; when he pays fuch 
attention to the infirmities of human na- 
ture, as in many important cafes, the 
laws themfelves have humanely teftified ; 
when in addreffmg thofe who are to affign 
damages, he labours to prevent either 
paffion or prejudice from trenching upon 
the immutable boundaries of juftice ; when, 
in ihort, in all things he judgeth as a man 
who confidereth that he alfo is one day to 
be judged, the Chriftian preacher may, 
folemnly declare, in the prefence of his 
Divine Mafter, (as I now do,) that the 
labours of his minifters derive ineftimahle 

affiftancQ 



'Excellence of the EngliJJi La^'s. 

effiitanc^ and fupport from magiftracy fo s 
exercifed. Before the frown of fuch a 
magifirate, fplendid vice, which difdained 
to give ear or attention to oiir admonitions, 
flees away abalhed and appalled. From 
him thofe virtues receive their due honour, 
in the face of their country, which we can 
only earneftly recommend and applaud in 
general, or encourage by private counfel 
and approbation. By him the honeft 
and ingenuous are fupported, in giving 
teftimony with that profound reverence 
for an oath, and that unfliaken attach- 
ment to truth, which it is our duty to 
inculcate on the minds of all : Bv fuch 
a magiftrate, the chief of all Chriftian 
virtues, and the divine attribute of mercy 
itfelf, are exemplified after the example of 
Him, whofe divine charafter it is our 
duty to fet continually before men. By 
fuch a magiftrate, our Lord's precepts 
are obeyed, and their reward obtained. 
^- Blefled are the peace-makers, for they 
ftiall be called the children of God." 
By him. finally, men are praftically 
taught to confider all care of the in- 

terefts 



186 Eaxelleiice of the Engli/Ii Laws. 

SERM, terefts of this world, as fubordinate to the 
s^v-w/ eternal hopes of a better. 

Ifj my beloved brethren, this defcription 
of what the adminiftrators of our laws 
ought to be were not reahzed ; if indeed 
it were not far excelled by thofe to whom 
Divine Providence, and our excellent 
prince, have intrufted the diftribution of 
juftice in this country, we fliould not 
dare to exhort the people, as we ear- 
neftly do, to love and reverence, not 
only the laws, but thofe to whom the. 
interpretation, and the execution of them 
are affigned; but as it is, {hall we deny 
them juftice, to whom we look up for 
juftice ? ftiall we withhold reverence 
from them who manifeft their reverence 
for religion, and the firft interefts of 
the community ? ftiall we not cherifh 
both refpecl and attachment towards 
thofe, who having devoted themfelves 
to a profeflion moft laborious, moft ho- 
nourable, and moft advantageous to fo- 
ciety, prove that they confider the re- 
vealed 



Excellence of the EngliJJi Laws. 187 

vealed will of God, as the fupreme rule serm. 
of their afiions. v^.^ 



Among the many bleflings which every 
one of us has to acknowledge with grati- 
tude, no worldly one demands fuch ac- 
knowledgment more forcibly, than that 
it pleafes God to permit us to live at a 
time when the fountain of juftice is pure, 
when the conftitution of our country hath 
triumphed over every effort to undermine, 
or to overthrow it, and when the influence 
of the Chriilian Religion, as an infallible 
rule of aflion, increafes every day. 

Let then the minifters of Chrifl con- 
tinually offer up unfeigned thanks for thefe 
bleffmgs, and earneftly implore their con- 
tinuance, and let them diligently exhort 
the people committed to their charge, 
not to rifk the forfeiture of them through 
negle6l or abufe ; but by the piety and 
virtue of their lives, to teflify the lincerity 
of their gratitude to God, and to thofe 
he hath fet over them, in his mercy and 
goodnefs. 

SERMON 



SERMON 



XIL 



ON THE FOLLY OF SIN. 



St. John i. 47. 

Behold an Ifraelite indeed^ in whom 
is no guile. 

It is impoffible to conceive a higher serm. 
degree of mental happinefs on earth, -J^^^ 
than the acquilition of fuch lincerity and 
uprightnefs, as would deferve the fame 
approbation, which our bleffed Lord ex- 
preffed of Nathanael in thefe words. 
We naturally indeed abhor deceit, and 
nothing is fo conftantly declared in our 
converfation ; but of gU deceit, none fo 
juftly merits our deteftation, as that 
w^hich we too often praftife upon our- 
felves ; for " if a man deceive th his own 

" heart. 



190 On the Folly of Sm. 

SERM. " heart/' faith St. James, " that man^s reli- 

XII. ... . 

s^v^ " gion is vain and if our final doom 

fhould be mifery, (which God avert !) 

how terrible an aggravation would it be 

to perceive, that we had ourfelves been 

the authors of the delufion, that had 

betrayed us into a defperate fituation. 

To learn how we may prevent this 
in time, let us confider the account 
given us by St. John, of the firft meet- 
ing of our bleffed Lord and Natha- 
nael. It will furnifli fome refle6lions, 
that may be of great ufe ; and I doubt 
not that many pious perfons will dif- 
cover truths of far greater confequence, 
and more peculiarly applicable to them- 
felves, than any I fhall be able to fuggeft. 
Let us lincerely intreat the bleffmg and 
affiftance of God on thefe our endeavours, 
and look up with confidence to his good- 
nefs for fuccefs. 

St. John tells us, that Philip, having 
obeyed the call of our Lord, met with 
Nathanael, and told him that he and 

others 



On the Folly of Sin. 191 

others had " found him of whom Mofes in 
*^ the law, and the prophets, did wTite, y-*^ 
" Jefus of Nazareth, the fon of Jofeph/' 
Of this Nathanael doubted, arguing againft 
it from a common obfervation among the 
Jews, that Nazareth being in Gahlee, a 
diftrift defpifed, as they imagined, of 
God, no prophet had ever arifen from 
thence ; and therefore it was incredible 
that any one coming forth from thence 
fhould be the Meffias. Philip, upon this, 
refers him to his own obfervation and 
judgment. He bids him come and fee 
the perfon of whom he had fpoken, and 
Nathanael complying with this requeft, 
was happy in receiving the fuUeft convic- 
tion. Upon his approach our Lord faid 
of him, " Behold an Ifraelite indeed, in 
" whom is no guile that is, one wor- 
thy to be of the favoured race, on account 
of the purity and fincerity of his heart. 
Nathanael hearing this, faid unto him, 
"Whence kneweft thou me To which 
bur Lord anfwered, " before that Philip 
called thee, when thou waft under the 
" fig tree, I faw thee/'^ 

There 



On the Folly of Shu 

There can be no doubt that our Lord 
here referred to fomething that had 
pafifed in the mind of Nathanael, at the 
time fpecified, which the preceding word.'^i 
marked to him in the ftrongeft manner, 
and of which he was certain none could 
be apprized, except one who was poffefled 
of that diftinguifhing character of the 
Meflias, that he fliould know the moft 
fecret thoughts of men. Finding that 
the perfon who converfed with him, did 
fo, he immediately acknowledges him 
with all due reverence, " Rabbi thou 
" art the Son of God, thou art the 
^* King of IfraeL" 

Our Saviour, approving of bis faith 
thus founded, promifes him ftill fironger 
proofs to confirm and eftabliili it, pro- 
mifmg he fhould fee greater things than 
thefe ; " hereafter,'' faith he, " ye fhall 
fee heaven open, and the angels of God 
afcending, and defcending upon the fon 
" of man/' That this came to pafs no 
one who believes the hiftory of Chrift can 
doubt. It was fulfilled at his afcenfion. 

To 



On the Folly of Sin. 

To apply this portion of Scripture to se 
Dur edification, I fliall lay down this w 
propofition, which none but an infidel 
can controvert, as a foundation of argu- 
ment : That Chrift, who knew the heart 
of Nathanael, becaufe " he knew all 

men, and what was in man/' not only 
" difcerneth the thoughts'' and intents 
of every one of us, but will " make 
" manifeft the counfels of our hearts/' 

Now if this be true, how much folly 
is there in guile ! How contemptible is 
that art which may feem to accomplifli 
the objefts of worldly purfuit ! How 
unworthy that felf-approbalion, that, for 
a ftiort fpace indeed, attends the wifdom 
of this world ! If any thing permanent 
could be fecured here ; if any thing could 
be enjoyed at the expence of thofe who 
are over-reached ; if we had been fent 
into this exiftence to maintain a perpetual 
war with each other ; and honour and 
comfort w^ere affigned as the rewards of 
fuccefsful ftratagems ; if, in fliort, the 
Creator, inftead of declaring by his works 
O and 



On the Folly of Sin. 

M. and their tendency, that his gracious 
objeft was to found the happinefs of his 
creatures upon the increafe of mutual 
and general benevolence ; had encou- 
raged them to feek their gratification, 
and eftablifh their own private intereft in 
the ruin of each other, fome excufe 
might be made for the faithlefs, fome 
defence be fupported for the crafty, even 
fome applaufe be given to the treache- 
rous. But, whoever cafts his eyes upon 
the works of creation, muft perceive 
harmony in all its parts ; whoever con- 
fiders the human mind, muft difcover, 
even in this our fallen ftate, the preva- 
lence of benevolent difpofitions ; whoever 
hears the word of God muft be per- 
fuaded, that the higheit degree of man^s 
wifdom coniifts in attaining to fupreme 
improvement in love towards God and 
man ; we may therefore conclude, that 
no temporal advantage can be procured 
in a manner repugnant to this excellent 
principle, which does not ultimately turn 
out to the detriment of him who ac- 
quired its poffeffion by guile and con- 
trivance. 



On the Folly of Sin, 

trivance, by impofing on the credulity, 
or betraying the confidence, or abufing 
the open honefty and fmcerity of ano- 
ther. It is far eafier to lay a plan of 
deceit, than to prevent its deteftion. If 
this happens, difgrace is the certain 
reward. It is impoffible to execute a 
fucceffion of fuch plans, without eftablifh- 
ing a general charafter of craftinefs, a 
charafiler from which men turn with 
apprehenfion, which th6y never approach 
without fufpicion, w^hich they never ref- 
peft or love. It is impoffible for any 
one fo to forefee the various events, that 
will fucceed in the train of human affairs, 
as to be fure none will happen to the 
deftruftion of the beft-laid fcheme of 
human artifice, and the difcoverv of the 
loweft and bafeft inftruments employed in 
its profecution. 

But' if all this w^ere not true, he w^ho 
difcerneth the thoughts and intents of 
every mans heart, abhorreth the lying 
lip and the deceitful tongue, and if he 
permits them to fucceed for fome Ihort 
o 2 time. 



196 On the Folly of Sin. 

^ERiU time, or in the acquilition of fome in- 
ferior object, the neceffary effefl: is ever- 
lafting punifliment, and the forfeiture of 
happinefs ineftimable, and irrecover- 
able. 

Terrible as fuch a judgment appears to 
us, it yet requires not only excellent 
difpofitions, but a competent knowledge 
of ourfelves, great caution and much 
affiftance from Heaven, to enable us to 
efeape it. To profefs to be a Chriftian, 
and to perfevere in deceitful plans and 
pra6lices, is indeed nothing lefs than 
abominable hypocrify, in the abhorrence 
of which I am well perfuaded all who 
hear me are of the fame fentiments ; but 
if, notwithftanding, they fliould be milled 
into deceiving their own hearts, and find, 
when it (hall be too late, that their reli- 
gion hath been vain, that is not efficient 
in making them a new heart, and re- 
newing a right fpirit within them, and 
therefore unequal to the eftablilliment of 
their hope in Chrift, their ftate at the 
hour of death, and in the day of judg- 
ment, 



On the Folly of Sin. 

ment, will be no better than clefperate. 
To prevent this, let us never forget that 
the world with all its allurements is 
conftantly tempting us, not only to de- 
ceive others, but alfo to deceive our- 
ielves. 

Our bleffed Saviour's words to his 
Difciples, when he gave them their firft 
eommiflion to preach, contain a perfe6l 
rule by which we may regulate all our 
intentions, and by which we may judge 
our whole conduct. " Be ye wife as 
" ferpents, and harmlefs as doves 
Here, though we are allowed to be as 
prudent as is neceffary, (for a permiffion 
is expreffed in the ftyle of a precept, a 
common manner in the facred writings,) 
that permiffion is limited with the utmoft 
accuracy, by the injunftion of preferving 
ourfelves perfeftly innocent, But how 
difcordant from this are the fuggefiions 
of worldly wifdom ! For the corrupt 

* Matt. X. 16. 



world 



On the Folly of Sin. 

world pays much more refpecl to art 
than to probity. Pohcy which knows no 
controul, but the decency of external 
appearance, always enjoys its applaule if 
it attains its objefil; and that labour, 
and induftry, and perfeverance, which 
alone could confcientioufly arrive at the 
end defired, are too generally defpifed ; 
as if fuccefs were more honourable, if 
owing to worldly arts, and as if it were 
fubmifflon, and even difgrace, for any 
man to remember that all the defcendants 
of Adam, without exception, w^ere born 
to toil, and that the beft abilities muft 
be devoted to it, if advantage is to be 
gained with honour, or enjoyed without 
remorfe. By the corrupt world, alfo, 
limplicity of character, if mentioned with 
approbation, is not mentioned with very 
high refpcft, and perfeverance in the 
ftraight path, when a little deviation 
would conduct us to fome temporal good, 
is commonly furveyed v/ith a fmile of 
contempt. So that if w^e mean not to 
confpire with the world to deceive our- 
felves, we muft abfolutely difclaim and 

oppofe 



On the Folly of Sin. 

oppofe its falfe judgments, however 
founded in prefent intereft, however efta- 
blifhed on the tyranny of cuftom ; for 
otherwife we fliall look down upon what 
we ought moft to refpefl, not only thofe 
who are guided by principles far fuperior 
to w^orldly opinions, becaufe they are 
divine truths, but even thefe very prin- 
ciples themfelves ; or at beft we fhall 
make a fort of compromife, between the 
claims of our temporal gratification, and 
our eternal interefts ; of which the un- 
avoidable efFeft muft be, that in every 
competition between them, that is, in 
every competition between the fuggeftions 
of w^orldly craft, and the admonitions of 
true and perfefl wifdom, our decifion 
will be in favour of falfehood, and cer- 
tainly deftruftive of our beft hopes. 

Now the comparative value of the 
higheft degree of temporal gratification, 
weighed againft the riches of eternity, is, 
by all who profefs to believe in Chrift, 
acknowledged to be very trifling. But 
how much more evidently ftiall we foon 
o 4 perceive 



200 On the Follij of Sin. 

SEEM, perceive the vaft difference between them, 

XII 

v^^p,^ when we fliall ftand before the tribunal 
of truth, in the prefence of him who now 
feeth all our hearts ! who will judge us 
" if/' as the prophet faith, " through 
" deceit we (hall have * refufed to know 
" him," and will admit thefe only among 
the Ifrael of God, who fhall be without 
guile ! for except we be converted, and 
" become as little children,'' we muft not 
hope to enter into the kingdom of 
heaven. How clearly fliall we then per- 
ceive, that the only true wifdom, is " the 

wifdom which is from above, which/' 
as St. J^mes teacheth us, " is firft pure, 
" then peaceable, gentle, and eafy to 
" be in treated 5 full of mercy and good 
" fruits, without partiality, and without 

hypocrify charafters in direct oppo- 
fition to worldly craft, and defigning 
policy. How willingly fhall he who has 
depended on them alone bury in eternal 
oblivion the recolleftion of thofe very 

* Jer. ix. 6. 



advantages^ 



On the Folly of Sin. 301 

advantages, the enjoyment of which in serm. 
paft Ufe gratified his paffions, and flat- 
tered his vanity ! With what fruitlefs 
forrow will he regret that he had aban^ 
doned the charafter of fimplicity and 
honefty, which in his former life he 
defpifed ! How will he abhor that worldly 
wifdom, which deluded him into iniquity, 
and abandoned him in the terrible hour 
of trial; and how will he deteft that 
applaufe of the children of this world, 
wife in thoir generation, and wife but for 
a moment, which paffed away like a wind 
and never will be heard again. Too 
many will there be in that day, wjio 
will thus ftand deftitute of comfort and 
hope ; too many whofe abihties once 
commanded the admiration, whofe fuccefs 
fecured to them the refpeft, whofe ele- 
yation the homage of mankind. Fatal 
acquisitions, if the means that compaffed 
them, muft be revealed to their endlefs 
ihame, and be recompenfed with endlefs 
punilhment. 



To 



202 0)1 the Folly of Sin. 

SERM. To conclude. The Pfalmift hath de- 
xn 

v^^^ clared, and his prophetic words are far 
more worthy of our attention than any 
opinions of this world, who (hall enter 
into the reft of God, of which if we fail, 
all our wifdom is no better than folly : 
" Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt hfe, 
" and doeth the thing w^hich is right, 

and fpeaketh the truth from his heart. 
" He that hath ufed no deceit in his 

tongue, nor done evil to his neighbour, 
" and hath not flandered his neighbour.'^ 
We muft, therefore, choofe whether we 
will be for a time, a very Ihort time, 

wife only in our ow^n eyes,'^ and in the 
eyes of this tranfient and deceitful world, 
or at the hour when our everlafting defti- 
nation (hall be fixed, receive from Him 
who knoweth every fecret of our hearts 
this gracious approbation, Behold one of 
my elefl, in whom there is no guile ! 



SERMON 



SERMON XIII. 



THE ADVANTAGES OF RELIGION. 



XIIL 



Psalm Ixxxiv, 11. 

J had rather he a Door-keeper in the 
Houfe of my God, than to dwell in the 
Tents of Ungodlinefs, 

If contempt be juftly attendant upon serm. 
the failure of weak and prefumptuous 
undertakings, no man affuredly deferves 
it more, than one who having chofen an 
improper objeft of ridicule perceives 
that ridicule recoil upon himfelf. Who- 
ever fliould publicly profefs, in the pre- 
fent age, what is declared by the Pfalmift 
in my text, would be derided by the 
numerous votaries of licentious pleafure, 
with all the farcaftic abufe which their 

wit 



^04 The Advantages of Religion. 

SERM. wit and their infidelity could fuggeft, 
v^v^ He would be told that his underftanding 
muft be weak, his tafte mean, his mo- 
rality abfurdly precife, and his religion 
little better than criminal hypocrify. All 
this fort of fatire arifes from that felf- 
fufficient vanity, w^iich excites fome men 
to defpife in others the belief of thofe 
truths, which, from motives of prefent 
convenience, they themfelves have been 
too hafty in rejefling. But, when it 
fliall appear, that they have rejefted what 
alone is fafe, and valuable, and honour- 
able ; when it lhall appear that the ends 
they pretend to accomplifh by turning 
away from true religion, are attained by 
thofe alone who are reafonably and fted- 
faftly attached to it, the abfurdity of 
their behaviour muft be expofed beyond 
reply, and that ridicule and contempt 
which they endeavour to throw on its 
profeffors, that weight of fatirical abufe 
under which they would overwhelm their 
principles, their profeffions, and their 
conduct, muft inevitably recoil upon them- 
felves. 

Liberty 



The Advantages of Religion. 205 

Liberty is a bleffing defervedly efteemed serm. 
by a being, who is born a free agent, vJ™J 
and is fenfible that he is one. The 
obje6l of fuch a rational being is the 
greateft degree of happinefs attainable by 
him, either in his prefent ftate, or in 
one of infinite duration, which may here- 
after fucceed it. Under this is compre- 
hended whatever is in prefent or future 
really profitable and honourable. We 
dare affert and maintain alfo, that not- 
withftanding the utmoft efforts of the 
craft and fophiftry of any wicked being, 
it muft be found experimentally, that the 
only fource of thefe real bleflings is re- 
vealed religion. 

For, the fervice of God is perfe6l 
freedom ; it exalts us to a degree of 
liberty we are incapable of enjoying with- 
out it ; it delivers us from a flavery under 
which we groan, in proportion as w^e 
negleft it. But thefe affertions may 
feem to require fome proof, and we wifh 
not to leave our adverfaries any occafion 
of cavilling. The freedom therefore of 

the 



206 The Advantages of Religion. 

SERM. the mind confifts in the abihtv of exert- 
XIII. . . . 

v-^v-^ ii^g ^11 its powers in the moft advantage- 
ous manner. An inftance will prove how 
well faith in Revelation enables it to 
perform thefe excellent operations. Hope 
is a principal fource of human happinefs ; 
but what a different afpe6l doth it wear 
in the bofom of the unbeliever, and in 
that of the religious man ! A mean fuc- 
ceffion of trifling amufements interrupted 
by numberlefs cares, poifoned with the 
bitterefl: reflections, partaken in doubt, 
and remembered with difgufl: and dif- 
quiet, during a fliort period, the event 
of which is unknown, compofe the prof- 
pe6l it holds out to the former. But 
ferenity under the fl;orms, and real de- 
light during the funfliine of life, fuc- 
ceeded by everlafting enjoyments to 
all eternity, heighten the glorious fcene 
it exhibits to the religious mind. How 
confined therefore does our immortal part 
appear in the firfl: infl;ance, in the ex- 
ertion of one of its noblefl: powers ! How 
vaft, how infinite is the duration to which 
its effecis extend in the latter ! Every 

faculty 



The Advantages of Religion. 

faculty or afFeftion of the mind, will s 
furmfli us with a ftriking proof of this 
nature. 

I fhall confine myfelf, however, to 
another inftance drawn from the affec- 
tions. 

There is attached to every benevolent 
difpofition of the heart, a pure and fu- 
perior delight, which increafes in pro- 
portion to the degree of benevolence, 
which dwells within us. The unbeliever 
cannot carry to fo great a height his love 
to any being, as the difciple of reve- 
lation, nor can he extend his affeaion to 
the fame infinite diftance. Revelation 
alone teaches men to love their enemies. 
This precept is fuperior to whatever na- 
tural religion could inculcate, or unin- 
formed reafon could conceive. Whoever 
rejefts revelation, confines himfelf in this 
point, nay, even doubts the very exift- 
ence of certain beings, towards whom it 
teaches us to be benevolently inclined. 
For, it i§ there that we become informed 

of 



208 The Advantages of Religioii. 

SERM. of the exiftence of thofe bleffed fpirits'^ 
\^^^ who difcharge the benevolent commands 
of the Almighty. But how much more 
clearly does it inftru6l us concerning God 
himfelf, the firft great obje6l of our love ! 
What ideas does it fupply of his infinite 
juftice, and goodnefs, and mercy; what 
glorious affurances doth it give of his 
love of his creatures, of his fatherly pity 
of their weakneffes, of his merciful cor^ 
reclion of their errors, and gracious en* 
couragement of their virtues. 

The unbeliever indeed muft acknow-^ 
ledge the power of God, but is often 
very much in doubt concerning his be- 
nevolence, and therefore is by no means 
able to lift up his heart with that warmth 
of gratitude, that heartfelt veneration, 
that ftedfaft reliance, wherewith the be^ 
liever approaches the throne of the 
Higheft. If therefore we confider that 
liberty which confifts in poffeffmg the 
greateft power of exerting the mental 
faculties, or giving the wideft fcope to 
the amiable afFe£lions of the heart, it is 

plain 



The Advantages of Religion. 
plain, that it refides only with the reli- 
gious man. 

There is naturally implanted in the 
mind of man, a defire and love of what 
is really honourable. The fceptic and 
the believer, the blafphemer and the 
w^or(hipper of God, pretend to this alike. 
We will examine their different preten- 
fions. 

The moft refined reafoners among the 
infidel clafs, fet up the rational faculty 
as an unerring guide. They declaim on 
the excellence of human nature ; they 
pretend to be enamoured of virtue for 
itfelf, and yet they fometimes condefcend 
to own that religion is neceffary for the 
government of mankind. Wherein then 
confifts this excellence in human nature 
of which thev boaft ? Is it diffufed 
through the whole race of mankind, or 
are the feeds of it only fruitful in the 
bofoms of men, who think like them- 
felves ? If it is diffufed through the whole 
race, fhew it me in the drunkard, whofe 
P fenfes 



210 The Advantages of Religion. 

SERM. fenfes are ftupified, whofe underftanding 
y^^' is extinguifhed in the fumes of inebri- 
ation ; fhew it me in the glutton, whofe 
appetites level him with the herd of the 
moft unclean animals ; fhew it me in the 
debauched libertine, who exhibits a wreck 
of whatever might have been worthy 
of refpefil and attachment in human 
nature. 

How many charafters are there of this 
fort, who extol the perfeflion of human 
reafon; how many, who while they thus 
condu6l themfelves, rejecl and depreciate 
revelation ? Thefe men alfo pretend to 
wdiat is honourable. If this fuppofed 
excellence is confined to perfons who 
think with themfelves, it is to thofe fe- 
le6l few only, that virtue can be amiable 
for herfelf alone. The reft have plainly 
rejefted her, unlefs we difagree concern- 
ing the meaning of the term. But 
taking virtue to imply fo firm an attach- 
ment to the rights of individuals, and 
fociety, that we cannot infringe either; 
how can thofe men pretend to be virtu- 
ous, 



The Advantages of Religion. 211 
ous, who would advife the government serm. 

XIII 

of mankind, on fuch principles as they 
will not entertain themfelves, who think 
religion neceffary to the well-being of 
fociety, though they think it the off- 
spring of human wifdom ; that is, who 
profefs they believe it expedient to rule 
the world by impofture. 1'his is what 
is called philofophy by thofe who main- 
tain the excellence of human nature, the 
lovelinefs of virtue for itfelf, and the 
neceffity of religion for the fubfiflence of 
fociety. Deceit and falfehood are ef- 
poufed by thofe who would exalt the dig- 
nity of human nature ; ftrange contra- 
diftion ! Is this what we can term ho- 
nourable ? Do men appear refpeflable 
when beheld in this light ? Let us place 
them in a different one, which indeed 
they do not owe to themfelves, but bor- 
row from fomething infinitely fuperior. 

At the fame time that revelation in- 
ftrufts us concerning the imbecility of 
man, and his pronenefs to evil, it in- 
forms us, that he is under the care of 
p 2 an 



212 The Advantages of Religion, 

SERM. an all- wife and good Being, who loves 
him, who is willing and able to render 
him eternally happy. Do we lofe or 
gain by this method of reflecting on our- 
felres ? Is it better to pretend to natural 
excellencies, which every moment proves 
we have little claim to, or to be con- 
vinced that our deficient nature may be 
rendered glorious, through the merits 
and mediation of a Redeemer, through 
the mercy of an all-powerful and bene- 
volent God ? Is it more honourable to 
pofifefs fancied perfe6lions, or to receive 
real graces from above ? Is it more 
honourable to believe the effefl of our 
virtue, confined to temporal and tranfi- 
tory advantages, or extending to infinite 
and unalterable happinefs ? Is it more 
honourable to propofe to mankind an 
uncertain fet of rules of conduft derived 
from human wifdom, often inconfiftent, 
always doubtful, the obfervance of which 
cannot infure even temporal happinefs, 
and the propofers of which do not give 
the leaft hint of that which is eternal; 
or to promulgate to the world a perfe6l 

fyftem 



The Advantages of Religion. 213 

fyftem of laws, correfpondent to reafon, 
and improving upon it, whofe fan6iions 
are the moft effeftual, whofe origin is 
indifputable ? In fhort, does our reafon 
itfelf appear more refpe6lable when un- 
guided it bewilders itfelfj and then ren- 
ders us confcious of mifery; or when it 
is conduced by revelation to the profpe6l 
of better things, where it may extend its 
views into infinite duration ? 

Whether we confider the prefent or 
future advantage of man, the preference 
muft be given in the fame manner. The 
authority of religious legiflation, and of 
that which derives its origin from man, 
are very different. Peace here, and 
happinefs hereafter, are in one cafe pro- 
mifed by God himfelf : the greatefi hap- 
pinefs any man is capable of among the 
changes and chances of the world, is 
promifed by the philofopher. The re- 
wards are not more difproportioned in 
degree than they are in point of cer- 
tainty. He who declares for revelation, 
fubfcribes to one certain law demon- 
p 3 ftrably 



TJie Advantages of Religion, 
SERM. ftrably given by divine wifdom; the other 
\.^v^ either fubfcribes to all the jarring opi- 
nions of philofophy, or if he attaches 
himfelf to any fmgle man's opinion^ even 
^ to his own, has at beft a fallible being 
for his guide. Which therefore is it our 
intereft to prefer ? What fliould we think 
of a man who rejected the offer of a 
large fam from a perfon of credit, in 
coniideration of the promife of a fmall 
one from one of doubtful character ? 
Such a man would be fet dow^n as defti- 
tute of common underftanding. If, there- 
fore, we determine thus concerning the 
interefts of this world, how ought we to 
determine concerning thofe of a better ? 

But experience being the beft proof 
of advantage, let experience decide the 
queftion. In propohng it, every indul- 
gence fhall be given to the adverfe party, 
and imagination iliall add to the advan- 
tages one of its fupporters could naturally 
enjoy, or artificially acquire. 



Let 



The Advantages of Religion, 215 

Let us fuppofe a man who with every serm. 
perfection of mind and perfon, poffeffed Wy-^ 
all the comforts and conveniences of hfe ; 
let us fuppofe him elevated above the 
generality in wealth, and in honour; let 
us imagine that he is endowed with that 
accuracy of judgment, which will enable 
him to diftinguifh which is preferable 
among the various opinions of philofo- 
phers, and with that firmnefs which will 
preferve him ftedfaft in a6ting up to 
whatever principles he embraces ; let us 
even fuppofe, that he palfes through life 
without fharing in the calamities to which 
others are liable. At the end of it, ac- 
cording to the unbeliever, the curtain 
drops for ever, and he may be faid to 
have been happy. Now we will fuppofe 
one whom mean birth, and the moft 
abjeft poverty, confine during this period 
of exiftence to the loweft degree of hu- 
man wretchednefs ; let us fuppofe him of 
a weak and unhealthy conftitution, and 
of inferior abilities ; that he encounters 
misfortunes every day, and that life hath 
been a burthen to him as long as he has 
p 4 known 



The Advantages of Religion. 

known it. When he quits it, let him be 
fuppofed to depart without any other 
fatisfaftion, than that which the unbe- 
liever defpifes and derides, the hope of 
falvation in a better exiftence. Which 
of thefe ftates fliould be preferred by a 
reafonable being ? Is it the profperity 
of feventy years which is to end in non- 
exiftence, or the equally tranfitory mifery 
of feventy years, which is clofed in the 
hope of glory ? 

Is revelation, the only fource of that 
hope, a proper objeft of ridicule ? Or, 
that religion which exalts our reafon, 
which leffens our forrows, and doubles 
our enjoyments ? Is he who would " be 
" a door-keeper in the houfe of his God," 
a fair mark for derifion ? Is he who can 
look down with indifference upon the 
pride of this world, upon its pleafures 
and its pains, on its advantages and ca- 
lamities ; who dares exalt his hopes to 
heaven, who relies on eternal wifdom, 
who puts his truft in infinite mercy, and 
founds his expectations on immutable 

truth? 



The Advantages of Religio7i. 

truth ? Surely not. The underftanding 
of man is very ill employed in finding 
arguments againft acknowledging the di- 
vine fource, from whence the only true 
wifdom is derived : the wit of man is 
abfurdly as well as impioufly drawn forth 
to combat truths the moft ferious and 
facred. Upon whom, therefore, doth the 
arrow recoil ? Surely upon him who pre- 
fumed to aim it againft the impenetrable 
armour of every believer, which is reafon 
perfefted by revelation. Confufion and 
fhame, difappointment and anguifh, will 
be the lot of thofe who thus rebel againft 
their God ; for they " intended mifchief 
" againft him, and imagined fuch a de- 
" vice as they are not able to perform/' 

To retain you, my brethren, in the 
way you have wifely chofen, was the ob- 
je£l of this difcourfe, I have endeavoured 
to fhew you, that Chriftianity is Avhat 
alone can confer on you perfe6l freedom, 
true honour, and fterling advantage. Let 
this reflection encourage you to perfevere 
in the faith: let it comfort you in af- 

fii6lion, 



218 The Advmitages of Religion, 

SER^M. fli6lion, fupport you in temptation and 
s^KT^ difficulty, and let it add to every fatis- 
faftion you enjoy. Let no falfe fhame 
render you fearful of the groundlefs fatire 
of weak and wicked men. Many who 
pretend to ridicule our religion in public, 
tremble through fuperftition in their clo- 
fets. Though fuch men fhould endeavour 
to overwhelm you with numbers, or con- 
found you with arguments or raillery ; 
though they fhould artfully mifreprefent 
truth, and endeavour to perfuade you to 
embrace falfehood ; though irreligion 
fhould prevail more and more, and even 
worldly advantage might be attained by 
immorality and infidelity, remain fixed in 
the refolution you have made. The end 
of life fl:iould be your great obje6t, not 
the prefent hour : the prefent hour paffeth 
away, but the prize you contend for none 
can take from you. Renew therefore 
frequently at Chrift's holy table, the 
vow you have made to be his faithful 
fervants ; feparate not yourfelves, as is 
the manner of but too many, from him 
who is your head. Reje6l not the blefied 

communion 



The Advantages of Religion. 

communion which he hath eftabhftied s 
between himfelf, and all the faithful 
members of his myftical body. Neglefil 
not, for ye {hall anfwer for it at the day 
of judgment, his dying requeft and com- 
mand, Do this in remembrance of me;" 
but come unto him, even fuch of you " as 
" labour, and are heavy laden, with the 
" burthen of your fins, and he will give 
" you reft/^ If your religion confifts in 
more than mere profeffions ; if befide the 
name, you efteem highly the privileges, 
and cherifh in your hearts the hope of 
Chriftians, teltify it by availing yourfelves 
conftantly of the means of grace, which 
are offered to you in this bleffed facra- 
ment; and complying with the earneft 
exhortation and encouragement, which 
we are bound to give unto every one of 
you, thus ftiew to all your brethren, that 
you do not repent j^ourfelves of the part 
you have chofen, that you efteem thofe 
bleffed that " dwell in the houfe of God, 
" and are always praifing him that 
you efteem thofe bleffed " whofe ftrength 
" is m God, and in whofe heart are his 

" ways. 



220 The Advantdges of Religion. 

SERM. ways/' And may the Lord your God 
s^^:^^ be your light and defence, may the Lord 
give you grace and wofftiip, and may he 
withhold iio good thing from you, becaufe 
ye lead a godly life ! 



SERMON 



SERMON XIV, 



OlSr THE CURE OF THE PARALYTIC. 



Matt. ix. 2. 

Son^ be of good cheer ^ thy Sins be for^ 
given thee. 

The miraculous cure of the paralytic, serm, 
related in this part of St. Matthew's 
Gofpelj is recorded alfo by the Evan- 
gelifts St. Mark and St. Luke. It is not 
mentioned by St. John, who having 
written his Gofpel for this, among other 
great purpofes, to fupply w^hatever was 
yet wanting to the church in the hiftory 
of our bleffed Saviours life, did not, it 
appears, think any thing could be added 
to the records of this fafl, contained in 
the three prior Gofpels. The fuUnefs of 

the 



^22 On the Cure of the Paralytic. 

SERM. the information their authors have givea 
us concerning it, can indeed be equalled 
only by its importance, and whoever is 
lincerely grateful to the Holy Spirit of 
God for the revelation of Chrift Jefus 
to mankind, will ufe his beft attention 
to apply every part of this divine know- 
ledge, to the purpofes it was defigned to 
effeft. On this principle, I intend in 
this difcourfe, to confider the records of 
this excellent miracle, and to deduce 
from them fuch conclufions as may, with 
the bleffing of God, contribute to your 
edification. 

This was one of the mighty a6ls, 
which our bleffed Saviour did at Caper- 
naum, where he dwelt, upon leaving Na- 
zareth, and had before " preached and 
" healed all manner of ficknefs, and all 
" manner of difeafe among the people,"' 
fo that his fame was gone forth through- 
out all Syria ; which I mention here to 
Ihew, that although they of Capernaum 
had, as it will appear, the greateft faith 
in his power of healing, yet they had 

not 



Oil the Cure of the Paralytic. 223 

not faith in him as the Meffiah, through serm. 
the obduracy of their hearts, and the vj^^)^ 
inveteracy of their prejudices. 

Now, their faith in his power of heal- 
ing, appears from a circumftance re- 
corded by the Evangehfts St. Mark and 
St. Luke, who inform us, that, as the 
iick perfon could not be brought in by 
the door of the houfe in which Jefus 
was, on account of the multitude, they 
uncovered the roof, and let him down 
through the tiling in his couch before 
our Lord. He, who is the Lord of 
mercy, and the prince of peace, dif- 
played his love and his power, faying 
unto the fick man, " Son, be of good 
" cheer, thy iins be forgiven thee/' 

It is to be remarked, that though 
many things were omitted by the Evan- 
gehfts, which Jefus faid and did, as we 
read in St. John, yet it is not to be 
conceived, that they wrote any thing 
more, or in addition to what he faid or 
did, from whence it is I think fair to 

conclude. 



224 On the Cure of the Paralytic, 

SERM. conclude from the expreffion of our 
XIV. ^ . , 1 . o , ^ 

v^-^ oaviour to the paralytic, " ^on, be of 

" good cheer/' that the forgivenefs of 

fins pronounced in his favour, was not 

confined to any particular tranfgreffions, 

of which his difeafe might be confidered 

as a temporal punifliment, but extended 

to all the offences of his former life, and 

that this forgivenefs was perfe6l, and 

extended to a remiffion of all puniftiment, 

for what was then paft; otherwife our 

Lord would not have exhorted him to be 

of good cheer; an exhortation he could 

have no reafon to comply with, if there 

remained any wrath treafured up againft 

him. 

Jefus Chrift, in pronouncing this par- 
don, exerted the authority of the only- 
begotten Son of God, " to whom,'' as 
he hath himfelf faid, " all power is given 
" in heaven and in earth/' The Scribes, 
who were prefent, had no doubt of this ; 
but they doubted of his right to that 
fupreme authority. They faid in their 
hearts, " This man blafphemeth," or why 

doth 



On the Cure of the Paralytic. 

doth he blafpheme ; adding, as St. Mark 
and St. Luke write, " who can forgive 

fins but God onlv ?" " Now Jefus 
" knew their thoughts." He fliewed that 
he did fo, by anlwering them as if they 
had uttered them. But a knowledge of 
the thoughts of men, was a fplendid qua- 
hty of the Meffiah, foretold by the an- 
cient prophets. David fpeaking of him., 
faith, " Thou underftandeft my thoughts 
" long before f and Ifaiah faith, " he 
" fhall not judge after the fight of his 
" eyes, neither reprove after the hearing 
" of his ears.'^ The woman of Samaria 
acknowledged him on this principle, 
" Come," faith ftie, to the men of her 
city, " fee a man which told me all 
" things that ever I did : is not this the 

Christ ?" This comprehends the know- 
ledge of her thoughts, as appears in that 
Jefus, a Jew, as ihe calls him, and a 
ftranger, told her of what fhe was con- 
fcious to be true, namely, that he, whom 
flie now had, was not her hufbando 

Q By 



226 On the Cure of the Paralytic. 

SERM. By knowledge of the fame excellent 
v.^^v^ degree, our Lord afked the Scribes,' 
" Wherefore think ye evil in your 
" hearts why do ye think my words 
blafphemy, or me odious, and worthy of 
death as a blafphemer ? " For w^hether is 
eafier to fay,'' that is, to fay with efFeft, 
thy fins be forgiven thee, " or to fay,'' 
with efFe£l, " Arife and walk ? But that 
" ye may know that the Son of Man 
" hath power on earth to forgive fins," 
that I do not affume an authority I have 
not, I M'ill immediately free this man 
from the temporal punifimient of his 
offences in a miraculous manner, and I 
fay unto thee, who art afifli6led, " Arife, 
" take up thy bed, and go into thine 
" houfe." The immediate effeft of this 
merciful command, jufi:ified the divine 
pretenfions of Chrifl:; for the paralytic 
" arofe, took up," as St. Mark tells us, 
" that whereon he lay," went forth before 
them all, " and," fay St. Matthew and 
St. Luke, " departed to his own houfe 
" glorifying God." 

It 



On the Cure of the Paralytic. 227 

It appears that the perfon thus cured, 
was afflifted with the worft degree of the 
palfy, being deprived of the ufe of all 
his limbs, a moft unhappy fituation ! from 
which, if it had been poffible for the art 
of medicine to reftore him, it muft have 
been after continual applications, and 
long perfeverance in them. But the 
divine word not only inftantaneoufly re- 
fiores the fick man^s limbs, but his full 
health and ftrength ; he not only arifes, 
but he takes up his bed, and carries it 
through the multitude to his own houfe. 
Amazing proof of divine power and 
mercy, in the blelTed Jefus ! 

The eiFe6i upon the people, which this 
miracle had, was fuch, that they were 
aftonifhed, thanking God for giving fuch 
power of healing unto men, declaring, 
" they had never feen it after this fafbion,'^ 
but " had feen ftrange things that day 
yet, though they all joined in glorifying 
God, this miracle had not the efFe6l it 
ftiould have produced univerfally upon 
their obdurate hearts, for they did not 
Q 2 unanimoufly 



228 On the Cure of the Paralytic. 

SERM. unanimoufly acknowledge Jefus to be 
v.**^^ the Meffiah, though he had known their 
thoughts ; nor to be the Son of God, 
poffeffmg all power, though he had de- 
monftrated that he had authority both to 
pardon fin, and to take away the punifli- 
ment of it. 

This miracle was one of many, con- 
cerning which our Lord reproached Ca- 
pernaum in thefe w^ords, " And thou 
" Capernaum, which art exalted unto 
" heaven, (halt be brought down to hell ; 
" for if the mighty works, which have 

been done in thee, had been done in 
^' Sodom, it would have remained until 
" this day. But I fay unto you. That 
" it lhall be more tolerable for the land 
" of Sodom, in the day of Judgment, 
^' than for thee/' 

To apply the relations of this miracle 
to our profit, let it be remarked, that 
they contain an example to excite us to 
our duty in the paralytic man, and an 

example 



0)1 the Cure of the Paralytic. 
example to deter us from unbelief in the serm, 

. XIV. 

ftiff-necked citizens of Capernaum, 

Being fmners, we are all like the para- 
lytic in the Gofpel. Our foul, in an im- 
penitent ftate, refembles his body ; and 
it cannot be relieved and reftored, with- 
out the fame forgivenefs, which he re- 
ceived from the mercy of Chrift Jefus. 
Vain philofophy, and the fallacies of 
human reafoning, are to the difeafes of 
our fouls, what the whole power of me- 
dicine was to his bodily infirmities, ufelefs. 
We therefore need the divine phyfician as 
much as he. But we muft remember that 
he was not only convinced of this necef- 
fity, but had faith in Him, who alone 
could reftore his health. He would not 
otherwife have defired or even permitted 
any to let him down, through the roof 
in his bed, before Jefus. If fo, his ex- 
ample calls loudly upon us to have faith, 
not only in the power of Chrift to grant 
us forgivenefs, but in his mercy to extend 
it even to fuch of us, as may by our 
offences have reduced our fouls to fuch 
Q 3 infen-' 



330 On the Cure of the Paralytic, 

SERM. infenfibility, as affli6ls a palfied body^ 
It calls upon us to furmount every diffi- 
culty, that we may come unto Chrift^ 
expofe to his fight our infirmities, and ex- 
prefs our reliance on his power and mercy 
for a remedy. It gives us a gracious en- 
couragement, that he will behold our 
faith alfo, approve our hope, and confirm 
pur expefilations, by granting us forgive- 
nefs. If the power of the Son of God 
is from everlafl:ing to everlafl:ing5 (and he 
is unworthy of the name, and incapable 
of the privileges of a Chrifl;ian who de- 
nies this) his mercy is equally unlimited 
by time. Its arms are open now, as be- 
fore, to the finner. To thofe who are in 
darknefs, the light fl:ill fliineth, and the 
" fun of righteoufnefs is rifen with heal? 
" ing on his wings,'' that all may believe 
and be faved. 

If men therefore will not turn untQ 
God, it mufl: either be through ignorance 
of their own unhappy Hate, or through 
floth and obfl:inacy, in continuing in im- 
penitence. In the firfi; cafe, their coij^ 

fciences, 



On the Cwe of the Paralytic. 231 

fciences, alarmed through God's juftice, sehm. 
grace, and mercVj fhould frequently call vJ^J^ 
upon them to examine themfelves ; the 
word of God lies open to dire£l them 
how to do it; we intreat them in his 
name to feek after true wifdom : but, in 
the fecond cafe, if they know their own 
ftate, and are too indolent to feek relief,' 
or too obftinately enamoured of their 
difeafe to wifli for it, let them dread the 
judgments impending upon all thofe who 
turn their backs upon wifdom, and the 
condemnation that cometh fuddenly upon 
fuch as " love darknefs rather than light, 
" becaufe their deeds are evil/' 

Such was the chara£ler and the pu- 
nifhment of th3 inhabitants of Caper- 
naum. That city had been particularly 
favoured by our Lord, " who,'' as St. 
Matthew informs us, " when he left 
" Nazareth, came and dwelt there,''' 
preaching his divine do6lrine, and doing 
mighty a6ts in this, which St. Matthew 
therefore calls his city. Now, if there 
is a country upon earth, on which the 
Q 4 Gofpel 



232 On the Cure of the Paralytic. 

SERM. Gofpel hath flione more fplendidly than 
on others unclouded by fuperftition, and 
errors fuperinduced on it by the wicked- 
nels of man, that country muft refemble 
the city of Capernaum, not only as to 
the peculiar favour it has experienced 
from God, but as to the fuperior fruits 
that will be expefted from it. And furely 
this may be juftly afferted of this our 
country. But where are the fruits ? Do 
they confift in the irreligion of thofe who 
own no guide but human reafon, vain 
philofophy, and fafhionable contempt of 
revelation ? Are they to be found among 
men, who admit revelation by halves, 
determining, as is convenient to them- 
felves, what was diflated by the Holy 
Spirit, and what was net, though it is 
declared, that " all Scripture is given by 
infpiration of God ?" Do thele fruits 
difcover themfelves in thofe, who pre- 
tending to own the Lord Jefus, own him 
not as he is, the Son of God, endued 
with all power from everlafting ; who take 
away the merits of his crofs and paffion ; 
who impioufly deny the fdtisfafilion he 

hath 



On the Cure of the Tarahjtic. 233 

hath made for us, and reduce his rehgion 
to an improved plan of morahty, and ^^^^ 
nothing better? Or, are thefe fruits to 
be looked for in men, who, boafting 
themfelves to be zealous for the faith, 
confine all their religion to mere fpecu- 
lation, and contraditt all their own prin- 
ciples in their behaviour ? Surely all thefe 
produce nothing but tares, for fuch a 
harveft is by no means correfpondent 
with the feed which was fown. 

Now, though it is contrary to the fpi- 
Tit of true Chriftianity, to compel men to 
acknowledge outwardly a belief that they 
do not inwardly entertain, it cannot be 
inferred from thence, that any are per- 
mitted to refift the evidences of Chrift, 
and his religion, through caprice, through 
prejudice, through temporal views, or 
through flufiuation with a kind of infta- 
bility of principle, that gives latitude to 
the condu£i of men. Unbelief muft al- 
ways be a crime ; if its caufe is an at- 
tachment to fin, no one can doubt it ; 
if it is owing to ignorance, the avenues 

of 



f34 On the Cure of the Paralytic. 

SERM. of information are open to all, and the 
v,^,.^^ defire of remaining uninftrufted in our 
interefts, and our duty, is a wilful neg- 
le6l of both, and as criminal as difobe- 
dience. 

The fruits which this country ought 
to bring forth, may be expreffed in thefe 
words. We fliould ' hold the faith in 
^ unity of fpirit, in the bond of peace, 
^ and in righteoufnefs of life/ Indivi- 
duals can in all ftations, if they will, dif- 
charge their duty in thefe feveral refpefits. 
They who refufe it, will for their negli- 
gence and obftinacy, not only fufFer each 
according to his demerits, from calamities 
that continually are falling upon dif- 
obedient nations, but will be puniihed 
everlaftingly for the lhare each individual 
has contributed to general corruption. 
With what iincerity and humility there- 
forcj ftiould every one of us, in imitation 
of the paralytic man, feek relief with 
faith, for our fpiritual infirmities, from 
him who hath all power both in heaven 
" and in earth to forgive fins." Let 

every 



On the Cure of the Paralytic. 235 

every one who is fo difpofed, join in the serm. 
intreaties now to be offered up before v^*-yw 
the throne of mercy. 

' O Lord Jefus Chrift, thou knoweft 

* our infirmities, and our fins are not 

* hidden from thee ; make us, we befeech 

* thee, a new heart, and renew a right 

* fpirit within us. Grant us thy grace, 

* not only to know our faults, but to ena- 
' ble us to amend our lives, that through 
' the merits of thy mofl: precious blood, 
^ and by thy all-powerful interceffion, 

* we may inherit thy kingdom for ever 
^ and ever. Amen.^ 



SERMON 



SERMON Xy. 



THE NECESSITY OF REFERRINCt OUR 
CONDUCT TO THE DIVINE JUDG- 
MENT. 



1 Cor. iv. 3, 4. 

With me it is a very fmall Things that I 
Jliould he judged of you^ or of Mans 
Judgment ; yea^ I judge not mine own 

For I know nothing by myfelf yet am I 
not hereby jujiified ; but he thatjudgeth 
me is the Lord^ 

The ftate of ni8.n9 in conle(|uenc6 of serm 
Adam's tranfgreffion, and of that finful- ^^-^ 
nefs of which we are all confcious, has 
often been compared to that of a crimi- 
oal^ expofed to the rigour of human 

laws. 



On referring our ConduB 

laws. The difference between them con^ 
fifts principally in this circumftance, that 
the trial all are to undergo after death , 
is far more important on every confi- 
deration, than any before a tribunal of 
men. St. Paul, fpeaking of the efl;imate 
that might be formed by others, or by 
himfelf, of his difcharge of the duties 
of his miniftry, declares that eflimate to 
be of very inferior confide ration, in ref- 
pe6l to the jufl fentence to be pronounced 
on him, from the judgment-feat of God : 
" It is with me,'' fays he, " a very 
" fmall thing that I lliould be judged of 
" you, or of man's judgment; yea, I 
" judge not mine own felf; for I know 
" nothing by myfelf, yet am I not 
" hereby juflified : but he that judgeth 
" me is the Lord.'' 

Now^ it will be eafily admitted, that 
we cannot in this refpefit follow a better 
example than that of St. Paul. I fpeak 
to Chriftians ; for if there fhould have 
entered here accidentally any one poi- 
foned with modern philofophy, he would 

treat 



to the Diune Judgment, 

treat the Apoftle's example, and his s 
precepts, with equal contempt. But to 
thofe who look with hope to the refur- 
reftion to life eternal, it will be intereft- 
ing to prove, why we fhould not entirely 
depend on man's judgment of our Chrif- 
tian behaviour, or even on our own, but 
as the Apoftle exhorts, " Judge nothing 
" before the time, until the Lord come, 
" who both will bring to light the hid- 
" den things of darknefs, and will make 
" manifelt the counfels of the hearts/' 

And firft of all concerning man's judg-» 
ment. 

• The great Roman orator, in his trea- 
tife concerning duties, fays, that to be 
indifferent about the opinions others form 
of us, is the part not only of an arro- 
gant, but of a diffolute mind. And this 
fentiment is furely true ; for we cannot 
eafily conceive a higher excefs of arro- 
gance, than is fhewn in the preference 
of our own notions, to maxims eftabliftied 
upon the general affent of mankind ; nor 

can 



240 On referring our Condu&; 

SERM. cati any mind be more diffblute than one 

XV 

\.^^^ that breaks thofe bonds alunder, and 
cafts away from it thofe ties of mutual 
regard and efteem, by which fociety it- 
felf is connefted together, and by which 
the conduct of every man, as a focial 
being, fliould certainly be reftrained. 

St. Paul was very far from approving 
of this fpirit. On the contrary^ he la- 
bours earneftly, in feveral places in his 
epiftles, to preferve in thofe committed 
to his charge, fuch a good opinion of 
himfelf, as he knew was moft important 
to the efFeft of his doftrine. He appeals 
to his manner of life to them, as he 
had done before in his defence before 
Agrippa to the Jews. He appeals to 
the abundance of his labours, at the 
fame time taking no glory to himfelf ; 
for, faith he, " it was not I that laboured, 
but the grace of God which was with 
me,'' having fet out with faying, " by 
" the grace of God I am w hat I am." 



The 



to the Divine Judgment. ^41 
^he charch hath always expreffed the ^^rm. 
fame fentiments. The apoftles chofe for ^--t-^ 
the feven firft deacons, men of good re- 
port, and Timothy was inftrufted by his 
great mafter, that among other quahfi- 
cations for the higheft authority in the 
church, one muft be to " have a good 
" report, even of them that were with- 
out," that is to fay, even of the uncon- 
verted. When therefore St. Paul fays 
to his brethren of Corinth, in my text, 
" that it is a fmall thing to him^ that he 
" fhould be judged of them or of man^s 
" judgment/' he does not arrogantly ex- 
prefs a contempt for their opinion of himj 
but he only difclaims all reliance upon 
that, as a folid foundation for an eftimate 
of his own conduft. But if we are fo 
weak as to aft otherwife, great dangers 
await us in oppofite direftions. If we 
eftimate our ftate by the reports of per- 
fons partial in our favour, we furely muft 
" think of ourfelves more highly than we 
ought to think/' There are few fo low 
that they have no flatterer. If interefted 
adulation does not befet every one, the 

R fiDcere 



242 0)1 referring our Conduct 

SERM. fmcere afredion that hopes the beft^ ex-^ 
preffes often in its praifes, what it wil- 
hngly beheves, rather than what is cor-* 
reftly true. Thus the applaufe of the 
amiable and undefigning llioukl be cau- 
tioufly accepted ; but the approbation of 
the abjeO: is always to be fufpefted, never 
to be eiteemed. The fmoke of fuch in* 
cenfej however grateful it may be, blinds 
our eyes, and dulls the mirror of con-* 
fcience, that we cannot be faithfully re- 
flefled as to ourfelves. Thus, for want 
of perceiving the ftains that deform us^ we 
wrap ourfelves up in felf-complacency, 
and are ill prepared for the terrible dif- 
covery of them, which the light of truth 
will make in the day of the Lord. 

On the other hand ; if w^e eftimate our 
fiate by the report of perfons prejudiced 
againft us^ we never can enjoy any inward 
comfort. There unhappily exilts an en- 
vious malignity in the difpofitions of fome 
men, which is gratified in proportion as it 
degrades the eminent, calumniates the 
virtuous, or mifreprefents the innocent. 

Singular 



to the Divine Judgment, 243 

Singular is his happinei's who hath made sehm. 
any progrefs in hie, unacquainted with Wy-w 
fuch as thefco 

In our timeSj indeed, the unprincipled 
attacks upon private and public charafter^ 
which are daily made^ and too generally 
countenanced^ are, one Avould think, fufli- 
cient to v/arn any man againft expofmg 
his peace and mental fatisfaftion to the 
rude outrages of common fame, or the 
poifonous breath of private flander, by 
eftimating his own principles, or purpofes^ 
or conduft, according to the mifrepre- 
fentations of others. Whoever does fo 
expofes himfelf to defpondency, and evea 
to defpair. He defpoils himfelf of the 
comfort of the recolleftion of any vir- 
tuous effort ; he abandons the hope of 
God's acceptance of imperfeft fervices ; 
he lofes fight of the profit of fincere 
repentance, and of the promifes of mercy 
declared to all penitent finners. 

Such are the effefts of elevatins: our 
fellow creatures, upon the judgment-feat 
R 2 of 



244 On referrifig our Conduit 

SERM. of our heavenly Father. But we ihall 

XV. ^ 

\c*-v^ as furely be betrayed into error, if we 
ufurp that feat ourfelves. St. Paul in 
my text difclainis this, " Yea/'' faith 
he, " I judge not mine own felf.'" He 
does not mean here, that he did not 
examine his own conduct. It is clear, 
that he did conitantly and diligently; 
and he itronj^ly recommends the fame to 
all Chriftians ; but after the moft accu- 
rate and impartial examination, he ven- 
tured not to pronounce a decifive opinion 
on his own behaviour.^ For," fays he, 
I know nothing by myfelf the true 
meaning of which is, I am confcious of 
nothing agalnli myfelf, (the Greek word 
with us tranikited* I know, having this 
iignification.) yet am I not hereby juf- 
tified 1 am by no means cleared of 
all offence ; " but he that judgeth me is 
the Lord \ ' this cannot be done except 
by him. who fearcheth and feeth all 
things. Now if this became St. Paul, 
how much more it become ^ every one of 
us ! 



I know 



to the Divine Judgment. ^45 
I know that there have been thofe, serm. 

XV. 

who have prefumed piibhcly to declare 
their conviftionj that they have made 
their own calHng and eleflion fure; and 
pretenfions of this fort are too often ad- 
vanced by fome in thefe our days of 
innumerable extravagancies ; but before 
we hearken to fuch pretenders, let them 
(hew us their liiperiority to the holy 
apoftle in wifdom, in Chriftian virtues, 
nay, even in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 
In the mean time, let us pray unto God 
that he will keep us in fobernefs of mind, 
and prefer ve in our hearts Chriftian hu* 
mility, that we may not be puffed up, 
that we may not in the juft judgment of 
God be found, notwithftanding our own 
vain opinion of ourfelves, to have been 
" clouds without water, carried about 
" of winds ; trees, whofe fruit wither- 
" eth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked 
" up by the roots ; raging waves of the 
" fea, foaming out our own fliame ; wan- 
" dering ftars, to whom is referved the 
blacknefs of darknefs for ever/' 



R 3 There 



O?! referring our Conduct 

There is, however, another extremft 
equally dangerous into Avhich \ve may 
fall, if in oppofition to the apoftle's ex-? 
ample, we will finally determine our own 
fituation. We niav be led to confider 
God as an aufiere mafter, and ourfelves 
in a reprobate and abandoned ftate. 
This is a diforder of the mind, to which 
the enemy of our prefent and future 
peace is pleafed to find us reduced ; for 
it gives him hopes to keep us in a ftate 
mcapable of amendment or improvement ; 
it enables him alfo to extinguifh by de- 
grees the love of God, and the hope of 
falvation through Chrifi, within us ; it 
gives him opportunity to tempt us to the 
moft dreadful of all crimes againft our- 
felves and againft God. The true wifdom, 
therefore, is to comply with the exhorta- 
tion of St Paul, to " judge nothing be- 
" fore the timCj until the Lord come, 
^' who will bring to light the hidden 

things of darknefs, and will make ma- 
" nifeft the counfels of the heart, and 

then fhali every man have praife of 

God " 

What 



to the Divine Judgment, ^47 

What then, my beloved br^thren^ ^ xv^ 
iliould be thefe fentinients with which we 
fhould hft up our hearts to God, and 
with which we (liould ahvays approach 
Chrift's holy table ? Surely of the fol« 
lowing tenor. 

" I ftand before Thee^ Creator, and 
Father of all things, from W'hofe pre-^ 
fence I cannot go one moment, con™ 
fcious of many infirmities and manifold 
fms, and unable to remember many 
more, which are all noted in thy booko 
My weak endeavours to perform thy 
bleffed will bear no proportion to the 
multitude of my tranfgreffions, nor to 
the means of grace, which thou haft 
vouchfafed to me. Yet, forafmuch as 
thy mercy aboundeth, I never will def- 
pair. Forafmuch as thou haft promifed 
to give thy Holy Spirit to them that 
afk thee, my prayers and intreaties for 
it fhall never ceafe, while my tongue is 
permitted to move, or my foul to lift 
up itfelf unto thee. I acknowledge my 
own fmfuluefs, and fee the neceffity of 
R 4 that 



248 On referring our Conduti 

SERM. that atonement, which thy bleffed Son 
v,^,,.^ hath made for me, and for aU this 
wicked world. I perceive that without 
his mediation, there could have been no 
hope of reconciliation for man. I am 
fure, that, without his interceffion, no 
grace could be obtained ; that my fins 
could have no propitiation, if he were not 
our advocate with thee, our juftly offended 
Father. I therefore glorify thee, for that 
thou haft fo loved the world, that thou 
haft given thine only begotten Son, that 
all who believe in him, fiiould not perifli, 
but have everlafting life. Having no 
righteoufnefs of my own to truft to, I 
will yet truft in his, and in thy manifold 
and great mercies. And fince it hath 
gracioufly pleafed thy bleffed Son, ' to 
* ordain holy myfteries as pledges of his 
^ love, and for a continual remembrance 
^ of his death for man's fake, until his 
^ coming again' in judgment, I will par- 
take of them m the full aflurance of hope, 
that ' my finful body may be made clean 
' by his body, and my foul wafhed in his 
^ moft precious blood, that I may dwell 



to the Divine Judgment, 

* in hinij and he in me/ So fhall I be 
more and more prepared for the coming 
of his kingdom in glory ; for that day 
when " the Lord will both bring to light 

the hidden things of darknefs, and 
" make manifeft the counfels of the 

hearts/' and when every faithful fer- 
vant, for Chrift's fake^ fliall have praife of 
thee. 

It will be no prefumption in me, my 
beloved brethren, but an eife6l of the 
Chriftian love I owe you, and indeed, I 
truft, an aft of juftice, to believe that 
every one who hears me wifhes fincerely 
to attain fuch a temper of mind, as thefe 
words exprefs. To give additional energy 
to fuch pious defires, let me remind you, 
that thofe who are fo difpofed, though 
they juftly efteem the approbation of the 
wife and good, feek their ultimate praife 
from the God of all wifdom, the Father 
of all goodnefs; that no rafti cenfure of 
weak men can affli£l them ; that no mali- 
cious calumny of the wicked can dif- 
pourage them ; that even the comforts of 

a goo4 



350 On referring our ConduSi 

SERM. a good confcience, and the hope of having 
v.*•^^ endeavoured to ihew themfelves faithful, 
cannot elate them with fpiritual pride ; 
nor any groundlefs apprehenfions, or 
diftruft of God's loving-kindnefs, betray 
them into defpondency ; but having en- 
deavoured, by the help of God's grace 
and Holy Spirit, to purify their hearts 
more and more, to increafe in all holy 
coaverfation and godlinefs, to abound 
in love towards their brethren in Chrift, 
and to improve in piety towards God our 
Father, thev become continuallv better 
qualified to look forward to the fecond 
coming of the Lord Jefus, and, as the 
apoftle faith, to ^' love his appearing/' 

If any would enable himfelf to bear 
with patience the certain expe6lation, that 
in that day the hidden things of d^rknefs 
will be brought to light, he muft cleanfe 
himfelf, while he hath time, from every 
fin. If any one would wifli to look for^ 
ward with hope that the counfels of his 
heart (hould, as they certainly will, be 
made manifeft, he muft fincerely attach 

himfelf 



to the Divine Judginent, 951 
himfelf to the fervice of God ; he muft serm. 

XV. 

confider the promotion of his glory among 
men, the firft great objeft of all his 
endeavours ; and if the tenor of his life 
is direfted by this principle, he may be 
aiTured, that he will, through the inter- 
ceffion of Chrift, be admitted into the 
divine prefence, and to celebrate God's 
praifes in unfpeakable felicity for ever- 
lafting ages. 



SERMON 



SERMON XVI.* 



THE NECESSITY OF BEING PREPARED 
rOR DEATH. 



Luke xii, 43. 

Bleffed is that Servant, whom his Lord^ 
when he cometh, Jhall find Jo doing. 

The duties of a Difciple of our bleffed 
Lord, are, with the utmoft propriety, 
compared, in feveral parts of the New 
Teftament, with the duties of perfons 
engaged in military fervice. St. Paul, 

* It deferves to be remarked, that this Difcourfe was 
the laft compofed by the Dean, and preached on oc- 
cafion of the fudden death of Lieutenant-Colonel Har. 
ley, of the Ifl Dragoon Guards. Th€ Dean himfelf died 
Qn the 11th of April following. 



fpeaking 



The Neceffitij of heing 

fpeaking of our ever-bleffed Lord him- 
felf, in his Epiftle to the Hebrews, calls 
him " the captain of our falvation and 
the fame apoftle, urging to Timothy 
the neceffity of unremitting attention to 
the duties of the ftation in which he 
w^as placed, exhorts him to endure 
" hardnefs as a good foldier of Jefus 
" Chrift." 

All the quahfications requlfite for per-^ 
fons engaged in that profeffion, are re- 
prefented in Holy Scripture as neceffary 
for Chriftians in general ; from whence 
we may juftly conclude, that the pro=^ 
feffion itfelf is not, as fome mifreprefent 
it, difpleafing in the eyes of God ; but, 
on the contrary, that a faithful, fteady, 
perfevering, and confcientious difcharge 
of its feveral duties, are^ like all other 
good works, acceptable in his fight for 
the fake of his Son Jefus Chrift, if per- 
formed with humility and faith in his 
merits and mercy. Of thefe duties none 
is more frequently and ftrongly incul- 
cated than that of aftive vigilance. Our 

Lord 



prepared for Death. 255 
Lord explicitly declared, that the pre- serm. 

• • • , 1 XVI. 

cept requiring it was by no means con- 
fined to his firft Difciples, to the firft 
teachers of the Gofpel, or their fucceffors 
in the nriiniftry, but extended to every 
one of his fervants. " What I fay unto 
yon" fays he, " I fay unto all, Watch/* 

You will eafily perceive the expediency 
of conftant vigilance, throughout the 
whole progrefs of a Chriftian life, if you 
will recolleft how numerous the lituations 
are, in which this our fpiritual refem- 
bles a temporal warfare. In the firft 
place, vigilance is neceffary, in order 
that we fliould comprehend rightly, and 
perform exafilly, the commands of that 
heavenly Leader, who, as our Creator, 
our Redeemer, and Legiflator, and the 
Captain of our falvation, has an indif-* 
putable right to the fupreme command 
over us; and under whom thofe that 
are ftedfaftly obedient, are fure to obtain 
the moft glorious of all victories over the 
moft crafty, formidable, and inveterate 
©f all enemies. 

From 



256 The Necejffity of being 

SERM. From the nature and the defiOTs of 
XVI . . . 

v^,.^^ our mortal foes, the expediency of vigi- 
lance is equally apparent. V/e are fully 
warned of the deceit and reftlefs malice 
of the enemy of God and man. We are 
affured, that he goeth about feeking 
whom he may devour. We are affured, 
that he is ever ftriving to feduce us from 
the allegiance we owe to our eternal 
King, to involve us in impious rebellion 
againft the divine Majefty, and ulti- 
mately, in that tremendous puniihment 
which awaits every one who lhall be 
convifted of treachery againft God, and 
confpiracy with the evil one, to defeat, 
if it were poffible, the plans of his un- 
bounded mercy. 

If we confider alfo the nature of the 
fervice to which we are called, we ftiall 
perceive, with equal evidence^ the neceffity 
of watchfulnefs. For though it is in- 
deed a fervice of perfeft freedom, inaf- 
much as all its duties are delightful, and 
their performance expands every power, 
adds energy to every ability, and affords 

delight 



prepared for Death. 257 

delight to every perceptive faculty of the serm. 
mind ; yet thefe duties have all fuch 
fublime objefts, the glory of God, and 
the happinefs of his creatures; they are 
fo various in their nature, and urgent in 
their claims; they are fo conducive to 
our improvement in this, and to our pre- 
paration for a far better life, that the 
performance of them is entirely irrecon- 
cileable with a ftate of inattention and 
indolence ; but requires the employment 
of our beft hours, and the exertion of 
every power, and the ufe of every op- 
portunity intruded to us while our conteft 
endures. 

If we turn our eyes inward upon our- 
felves, and conlider impartially our own 
nature and difpofitions, additional proofs 
will immediately arife of the neceffity of 
conftant vigilance; Our corrupt naturej 
and its finful defires, are traiteroufly con- 
nected with the enemies of our God, 
and of ourfelves, and the eflfeft is too 
often, in the very beft of us, fuch as is 
emphatically defcribed by St, Paul : " I 
S « fee," 



258 The Kecefitt/ of being 

s£RM. " fee/' laid he, " a law in my members 
warring agamft the law m my mind, 
" and bringing me into captivity to the 
" law of fin, which is. in my members 
and it too frequently happens, that we 
are betrayed into a concurrence with thefe 
internal foes, and even, as St. James ex- 
preffeth it, " deceive our own hearts/' 
We then become fatally fecure in pro- 
portion as our danger increafes ; we go 
on in the path of deftruction, like the 
blind who approaches a precipice, and 
never underftand our real ftate, till we 
are plunged into the abyfs of everlafting 
mifery. From infenfible deviation into 
this path of continual danger, nothing 
but unremitted vigilance, nor even that, 
without the protection of heaven, can 
fecure us. We are, therefore, exhorted 
to watch and pray, and therefore alfo 
our church implores illmighty God to 
' grant us fuch ftrength and prote6lion 
' as may fupport us in all dangers, and 
* carry us through all temptations/ 



But 



prepared for Death. 

But the very beft and moft pious of 
men is alfo the moft fenfible of the 
expediency of unremitting vigilance. 
Though his confcience witneffes for him 
moft comfortably, that the general tenor 
of his life accords with the will of his 
divine Mafter, he is efpecially anxious 
left he ftiould be betrayed into negligence 
of any Chrittian and focial duty ; he 
performs every one with increalmg atten- 
tion and zeal, " that whenever his Lord 
" ftiall come, he may find him fo 

doing/' 

Having thus generally ftated thefe 
motives for vigilance, I ftiall next con- 
fider the paffage in St. Luke's Gofpel, to 
which my text belongs, and fliew with 
how much force and propriety it applies 
to each of us in our refpeftive callings. 
This is the ufe which we ftiould all make 
of Holy Scripture ; and whenever we 
either hear or read it, ftiould filently 
implore God, as I truft you will at pre- 
fent, that his word may have its full 
effeft in reforming and improving our 
s 2 lives, 



The NecelJity of being 

lives, fo that at length, through our Re- 
deemer's merits, we may become accept- 
able in his (ight. 

Our Lord having pronounced a pa- 
rable inculcating watchfulnels, St. Peter 
faid unto him, " Lord, fpeakeft thou this 
" parable to us, or even to all To 
which our Lord gave an anfwer, de- 
claring that it applied to every one, to 
whom God in his wife, but various dif- 
penfations, hath committed any truft in 
the ftation to which it hath pleafed God 
to call him. " Who then," faith our 
Lord, " is that faithful and wife fteward, 
" whom his Lord lliall make ruler of his 

houihold, to give them their portion 
" of meat in due feafon ? Bleffed is that 
" fervant, whom his Lord when he 
" cometh fliall find fo doing. Of a 
" truth I fay unto you, that he will 

make him ruler of all that he hath." 

, Whatever then the nature of the 
charge may be ; whether, for inftance, 
it be to lead and direfl men in their 

fpiritual 



prepared for Death. 

fpiritual warfare, as minifters of Chrift ; 
whether it be to inftruft, to difcipUne, 
or to command them in the fervice of 
their king and country ; in whatever de- 
gree the truft may be committed to 
them, from the higheft rank of autho- 
rity, to the very loweft, refponfibihty 
to God hes upon them every one ; every 
one may humbly look forv/ard to the 
fame reward for confcientious obedience ; 
every one has equal reafon to dread 
the fame tremendous punifliment, if at 
any time his Lord, when he cometh, 
lliall find him either negligent, or un- 
faithful, or unjuft to others ; for let it 
not be fuppofed, that this fcripture ap- 
plies only to men in authority. Every 
perfon, whatever may be his ftation, 
has fome influence ; by his condu6l he 
affefts the happinefs of others ; many 
derive advantage from the virtues of 
even the meanefl; of men ; and alas ! 
but too many experience much mifery, 
fome, perhaps their own children, dif- 
trefs, and even temporal deftru6lion, from 
their vices. To all them, without ex- 
s 3 ception. 



The Necejfity of being 

^EHM. ception, are Chrift's precepts addrefled; 

v^^^ apd from all, whenever he fliall come, 
however fuddenly, to call them before his 
judgment feat, will a ftrift account be de- 
manded. To every one who fliall, at that 
awful moment, be found doing his Lord's 
will, this promife is thus folemnly made 
by our bleffed Redeemer ; " Of a truthj 
" I fay unto you, he will make him ruler 
" of all that he hath/' In this ftrong 
expreffion is imphed, the inefiimable value 
of the reward here promifed ; of which 
the Scripture faith, " Eye hath not feen, 
" neither hath ear heard, neither have 
" entered into the heart of man, the 
things vv'hich God hath prepared for 
" them that; love him/' \s '\t\\ equal 
energy is the doom of the negligent, and 
unfaithful fervant, denounced. " But,'' 
faith our Saviour, if that fervant fay 
^- in his heart. My Lord deiayeth his 
coming,'' that is, I have reafon to ex- 
pejQ: a long continuance of life, according 
to the ufual courfe of nature, from the 
ftrength of my conftitution, or from any 
other fallacious caufe, " and fliall begin 

" to 



prepared for Death, 

" to beat the men ferv^ants and maidens/' 
that is, be guilty of any fort of injuftice, 
or violence, " or to eat and drink, and 
" be drunken,"" that is, to be guilty of 
any kind of vicious excefs, " the Lord 
" of that fervant will come in a day 
" when he looked not for him, and at 
" an hour, when he is not aware,'' that 
is, at a time much earlier than he 
peeled to die, perhaps without the warn- 
ing of previous ficknefs, " and will cut 
him afunder,'' deftroy both his body 
and foul in hell, in endlefs torments, 
appointing him his portion with the un- 
believers, the obftinate enemies of Al- 
mighty God. 

Such is the tremendous, but juft fen- 
tence pronounced againft every one who 
will not be vigilant ; who will not perform 
every duty of his calling, as one who 
lives in conftant expectation of his Lord^s 
coming. 

Let us, that we may be wife in time, 
confider how it would afFeft any one af 
s 4 us, 



The Ntceffity of being 

us, who are here immediately engaged in 
the fervice of God, or any one of you, 
who are alfo acceptably ferving him, while 
you loyally ferve your king and country ; 
but let it not be forgotten, that it is of 
importance, equally terrible to every one 
who hears me, to whatever duties he is 
called, in whatever ftation he is placed.- 
All ftations cannot now be brought for- 
ward, or the inftances thev would afford 
be enlarged upon ; let others then be 
warned by the inftances I (hall adduce 
from our own. 

What then would be the horrible fate 
of any one of us, who are in this houfe 
of God continually employed in His fer- 
vice, if he ihould vilit us with the fudden 
ftroke of death, while we were inattentive 
to our fublime, and indeed heavenly 
duties, while our minds were wandering 
among trifling, worldly, and even vicious 
imaginations ! What would be our fate, 
if at that awful moment we were found 
betraying, by trifling geftures, or conver- 
fetions, by unbecoming looks and aftions, 

our 



prepared for Death, 265 

©ur want of regard to the fervice in which serm, 
we pretended to be engaged, our want 
of refpeft for the holy place in which we 
were aflembled, our want of fear, or of 
piety, towards the eternal incomprehen- 
fible God, who is worftiipped there, and 
who has gracioufly promifed his own ef- 
pecial and divine prefence, when only 
^ two or three are gathered together in 
' his name !' Can we bear the thought 
of being hurried in an inftant, from in- 
fulting him, to hear the denunciation of 
his juft and eternal vengeance ? Yet in 
this peril ftands every one, who even for 
the fhorteft time behaves himfelf irreve- 
rently in the houfe of God. 

And what would be the horrible fate 
of any one of us, who after returning 
from the facred fervice, ihould among 
light, or unprincipled companions, hold 
converfations derogatory to religion, of- 
fenlive to its author, perhaps even blaf- 
phemous, and drop down upon the earth 
never to rife again, except to condemna- 
tion, while the fneer of ridicule changed 

into 



The Neceffity of behig 

into the convulfion of his dying counte'* 
nance, and the half uttered oath termi- 
nated in the groans of the agonies of 
death ? Who is there fo hardened, as not 
to dread the probabiUty of being made 
fo alarming an example to loofe and un- 
principled companions ! Who that is ever 
thus guilty, can affure himfelf that he may 
not thus, as many others have been, be 
marked as an obje6l of divine vengeance ? 
If we who are immediately engaged in the 
fervice of God, would wifh to be prepared 
for our Lord's coming, our lives and con- 
verfations muft not be unworthy, much 
lefs difgraceful, of the fervice in which we 
are generally engaged. 

You will remark, that the two forts of 
offence, againft which the fentence is de- 
nounced, in the paffage of fcripture now 
under conlideration, are violence and ex- 
cefs, or intemperance. They are only 
fpecified on account of their connexion 
with the immediate fubje6l of the pa- 
rable ; but they are, by a common mode 
of fpeech, put for all other enormities, in 

which 



prepared for Death. 

which it would be moft dreadful for any s 
man to be furprifed by the fudden ap- 
proach pf death : but let us refleft on the 
tremendous confequences, if any man, en- 
gaged in military fervice, fhould be com- 
manded inftantaneoufly to quit this worlds 
while he wa^^ immediately involved in 
either of the kinds of guilt here fpecified. 

One of the precepts delivered by St. 
John the Baptift, to the foldiers, who 
^ed of him what they ftiould do, was, 

do violence to no man/' There is the 
feme differenee between the duty required 
in the field of aftion, and the violence 
here forbidden, as there is between cru- 
elty and bravery. The brave man, what- 
ever may be hi^ underftanding, knows the 
diftin6tion, and hi§ conduct marks it. 
He k«owj§ that it is his duty to fubdue 
the eneniy gf hit King and country ; but 
fe^ is merciful to the vanquiflied. At 
home he fe^ls that he is the proteftor of 
his countrymen, and abhors the thought 
p.f offering violence to the perfons and 
lives of thofe, for whofe fakes he expofes 

his 



The NeceJ/tty of being 

his own. But if any man can forget 
himfelf fo far as to confound his fellow- 
fubjefts with his enemies, and in private 
quarrel to draw his fword againft him, 
to protefl: whom that fword was in- 
trufted to him, what muft be the judg- 
ment awaiting him, if in the height of 
his fury (no uncommon cafe) the bonds 
of hfe fhould be fnapped afunder, and his 
foul expelled from the body, to its dread- 
ful account ? What muft be his fate, if 
this fudden diffolution fhould be effefted 
by the hand of a challenged adverfary, 
on account of groundlefs, trifling, perhaps 
imaginary provocations ! 

O, my beloved brethren, it were wor- 
thy even of an angeFs voice, to reftrain, 
in minds led by their profeffion itfelf to 
generous fentiments, every propenfity to 
exceffive anger and violence ; to annihilate 
a praclice, which is a diflionour to thofe 
arms, which have been covered with glory, 
•and a diilionour to that holy religion, in 
defence and fupport of which thofe arms 

have 



prepared f 01' Death. 

have been, through God's bleffing, of late 
years fo illuftrioufly fuccefsful. 

1 o all who are anxious to behave in a 
manner worthy both of their military 
and their Chriftian profeffion, and would 
avoid the calamity of being fummoned 
from this world, in a ftate incompatible 
with the claims of either, we cannot 
addrefs ourfelves in more forcible terms, 
than thofe of our Lord himfelf : " Take 
" heed,'' faith he, " to yourfelves, left 

at any time your hearts be overcharged 
" with furfeiting and drunkennefs, and 
" fo that day come upon you unawares." 
Such exceffes, enervating to the body and 
mind, ruinous to the foul, obliterating 
from it the image of God, reducing men 
to the level of the brutes that perifli, are 
but fad preparatives for our appearance 
before the God of purity. Yet we know 
how many have never awoken from the 
fiumber of ebriety. We know how many, 
hurried by excefs into madnefs, have died 
uttering imprecations and blafphemies. 
Dreadful removal before fenfe could be 

reftored, 



270 The NeceJ^ty of being 

sER^M. reftored, or repentance could be praftifed, 
\*^v-w to a ftate wherein refleflion muft be an 
inexhauftible fource of torment, and re- 
pentance impoffible. Such indeed, my 
beloved brethren, is the deftination of 
all who by the juft judgment of God^ 
are cut off fuddenly in the midft of their 
tranfgreffions, unlike in their end, as 
they have been in their conduft, to the 
idgilant fervant of whom our Lord hath 
faid, " Bleffed is that fervant, whom his 
" Lord when he cometh fliall find fo 
" doing/' 

it feemed to me to be indifpenfably 
incumbent upon me, to fuggeft to you 
the confiderations expreffed in this dif- 
courfe, at a time when the heart of 
every worthy, pious, and brave man 
among you, is foftened by affli6lion, on 
account of the heavy lofs you have fo 
lately fuftained. Your moft refpeftable 
officer was, as I have been informed, 
attached to the duties of his honourable 
profeffion, and to thofe who, like him- 
felf, confcientioufly difcharged them. He 

was 



prepared for Death. 271 

was juft and exafil without feverity; far serm. 
more defirous to reclaim than to punifli. 
He was beloved by thofe who enjoyed 
his friendfhip, efteemed by his acquaint- 
ance, refpefted by all. Yet it pleafed 
God to take him to himfelf in the vio:our 
of life ; but it pleafed him alfo to take 
him, when he was immediately employed 
in the care of thofe committed to his 
charge ; and we humbly hope, that he 
is numbered among thofe, of whom it is 
faid, " Bleffed is that fervant, whom his 
" Lord when he cometh ftiall find fo 
" doing/' In this point of view, his lot 
is enviable indeed, defirable for eveiy 
one of us; but furely unattainable with- 
out continual vigilance, without ftrift 
attention to our religious and temporal 
duties, our only preparation for the 
awful hour when our Lord (hall come. 

I am the more encouraged on this 
occafion, to exhort you earneftly to the 
faithful difcharge of your profeffional 
duties towards your Sovereign, towards 
your commanders, and your country in 

general. 



272 The Neceftty of beings &c. 

SER^M. general, becaufe I have obferved your 
\^v^ attention and piety in this facred place ; 
for religious principles are the only firm 
foundation of good conduft, as religion 
itfelf affords the only fure ground of 
hope in eternity. May God, therefore, 
give grace to every one of you, both in 
his fervice, and that of your King and 
Country, to " fight the good fight,'' fo 
to " finifti your courfe," and " keep the 
" faith," that you may obtain a crown 
of glory, laid up for every one of you, 
who by conftant vigilance, fhall be, 
through his mercy, qualified, whenfoever 
the Lord ma}^ come, to love his ap- 
pearing. 



SERMON 



SERMON XVII. 



THE REWARD ATTENDANT ON THE 
CONVERSION OF A SINNER. 



St. James v. 20. 

Ht, which converteth the Sinner from 
the error of his way^ Jhall fave a Sonl 
from Deaths and Jliall hide a multitude 
of Sins. 

St. JAMES concludes his p:eneral sekm, 

XVTI. 

Epiftle with the words I have juft read, ^^v^ 
They exprefs a promife of the very 
higheft importance; and the infpired 
writer introduces the fubjefit, with which 
they are connefted, with an earneft fo- 
lemnity, becoming the duty he recom- 
mends, and the reward affigned to .ts 
performance. " Brethren/' he fays, " if 
" any of you do err from the truth, and 
T " one 



The Heward attendant on 

" one convert him; let him know, that 
" he, which converteth the finner from 
the error of his way, fliall fave a foul 
" from death, and fliall hide a multitude 
« of fins/' 

It will be eafily admitted, that, in 
proportion as any error has been de- 
ftruftive, and often fatal, the converfion 
of the finner muft of courfe be laudable 
and beneficial: and therefore the confi- 
deration of the reward attached to it mufi: 
be moft worthy to claim tho attention of 
perfons, whofe endeavours are united to 
refcue from temporal, and to preferve 
from eternal ruin, unfortunate women, 
who have deviated from the path of 
virtue, and to prevent them from being 
finally involved in the tremendous con- 
demnation of thofe, of whom the Wife 
Man hath faid, " Her houfe is the way 
" to hell, going down to the chambers 
" of death/' And furely, my beloved 
brethren, the hope of faving a foul from 
death, and of hiding a multitude of fins, 
fliould operate alfo as a mofl: powerful 

encourage- 



the Converjion of a Sinner. 

encouragement to him, who, while he 
now endeavours to recommend to the 
Chriftiah charity of his hearers an infti- 
tution unequalled, as to the weight of 
mifery it is defigned to relieve (and, he 
is perfuaded, hath relieved) ought furely, 
at the fame time, to labour towards the 
correftion of thofe general errors, from 
whence the fins, here to be relinquiflied 
for ever in fincere penitence, may have 
derived their moft unhappy origin. 

Under this impreflion of my duty, on 
this occafion, I fhall firft confider the 
meaning of the text, and efpecially of the 
promifes it contains. 

The error of the finner^s way, from 
which all are here encouraged to convert 
him, has reference, not only to princi- 
ples, but alfo to pra6tice. Errors in 
principle and errors in pra6lice are ne« 
eeffarily conne6ted ; and no doftrine ever 
was more falfe or mifchievous than this, 
that a man may think erroneoufly, and 
yet aft corre6tly; or, as it is quoted, 
T 2 oftener 



The Reward attendant on 

oftener I charitably believe, out of mo^ 
deft deference to the fame of the poet^ 
than from any thing like conviftion of 
the truth of the fentiment^ that " his 
" faith cannot be wrong whofe life is in 
the right/' Would our bleffed Lord 
have iniilted, as he does, on the duty of 
a found faith ; would his word have every 
where inculcated the neceffity of it; 
would the great Apoftle to the Gentiles; 
would St. James, and the other infpired 
authors of the Epiftles, have exhorted 
the members of the newly-eftablifhed 
churches, as they have done, to be fted- 
faft, to be zealous, to contend earneftly 
for the faith, if it had been a matter of 
indifference ; if it had not been certain^ 
that good works, as our twelfth article 
expreiieth it, do fpring out neceffarily of 
a true and lively faith ? I need only refer 
my hearers to the hiftory of early heretics, 
and to their obfervation of modern ones, 
that they may be convinced, how the 
moft flagrant irregularities of condu6l are 
always the natural fruits of extravagances 
in opinion. 

I muft 



the Conver/ion of a Sinner, 277 
I muft take it for p-ranted then, that serm. 

XVII 

the error of the finne/s way, here men- v— v-O 
lioned, relates to conduft as well as to 
opinions; and fhall proceed to confider 
the encouragements to convert him. 
" Let him that converteth him know,'' 
faith the Apoftle, " that he lhall fave a 
" foul from death/' 



I underftand the Greek word, here 
tranflated foid^ in its moft extended ac- 
ceptation ; and am warranted to do fo, 
upon the confideration, that both tem- 
poral and eternal death are the naturally 
confequent puniihments of perfeverance in 
error and impenitence ; and I wifh every 
one prefent to refleft deeply on the in- 
eftimable fatisfaftion of preferving any 
fellow-creature from thefe. That fatis- 
faftion will engage the ferious attention 
of every one, in proportion as Chriftian 
charity prevails in his heart, and as he 
is fenfible of the precious value of a 
human foul. If he remembers, that it 
could not profit him, " though he ftiould 
*^ gain the whole world and lofe his own 
T 3 foul," 



The 'Reward attendant on 

" foul/' he will perceive, that this folemn 
truth applies to another, as ftrongly as 
to himfelf; but he will alfo refle6l, that 
the fouls of men are precious in the fight 
of God. I enlarge not at prefent on the 
abundant proofs of this, which refult 
from every part of the great plan of 
man's redemption ; but the promife in 
the latter part of my text is itfelf a proof, 
and of very great importance. We are 
there affured, that " he, who converteth 
" the finner from the error of his w^ay, 
" fhair not only " fave a foul from 
" death,'' but fhall alfo " cover a mul- 
" titude of fms." This has reference to 
his own fms, the converter's. This in- 
terpretation is, I doubt not, indifputably 
juft ; becaufe, if we fuppofe it to be 
meant of the penitent's fins, it was, as 
Biftiop Atterbury has well argued, in-^ 
eluded in the former promife ; for if a 
foul is faved from death, moft affiiredly 
its fins are covered. It is in truth an 
additional and powerful motive propofed. 
But let it not be imagined, that, in 
afferting this, the popifli doftrines of 

merit 



the Converfio7i of a Sinner. ^79 

merit and of works of fupererogation are ^|^^^* 
preached; all that is intended here by Wy-^ 
tlie multitude of fms is, " leffer negle6is 
" and failings of duty, many fins of in- 

firmity, furprize, and daily incurfion,'^ 
as that prelate expreffes it; " and as to 
" thefe, it is not pretended, that even 
" they are covered, in any fenfe, but 

what includes the application of the 
^' merits of our Saviour s blood, the only 
" fountain of fatisfa6lion for all kind of 
" fins, for the leaft as well as the greateft ; 
" and the duty of converting the finner 
" never can be confidered as a work of 

fupererogation ; fo that we might neg- 
" le6t it without fault or blame ; but^ 
" though we are fl:riftly obliged to do 
" our utmofl: in it, it may include fo high 
" a degree of Chriftian perfeftion, and 
" one fo feldom attained, that God may 
" think fit mightily to reward it, and, ^ 

on this account, affure us, that he will 
" not, in many fmaller inftances, be 
" extreme to mark what is done amifs/^ 
To thofe, who would wifii to meditate on 
this doftrine, I would recommend the 
T 4 fermon 



280 The Reward attendant on 

SERBL fermon of the prelate I have quoted, and 
vsl*v-w/ ftiall only add, that our Lord himfelf, 
as he hath remarked, authorized this 
mode of interpretation, when he taught 
us thus to pray ; " forgive us our tref- 
^' paffes as we forgive them that trefpafs 
" againft us the one being clearly a 
qualification for the other. It is, how- 
ever, no inconiiderable argument, in fup- 
port of the interpretation I contend for, 
that the authors of the Syriack tranflation 
of the New Teftament, which was in- 
difputably made in, or very near, the 
Apoftle's time (as it was natural it ftiould, 
that being the current language of the 
country, in which Chrift's miracles were 
wrought, and his glorious Gofpel was 
firft preached) thefe tranflators, 1 fay, 
have rendered it, he lhall hide the mul- 
titude of his own fms with which the 
Arabic veriion alfo coincides ; and hence 
little doubt can be entertained, how the 

* See jMill's Greek Teftament ad locum. Peccatorum 
fuorum. Syr. Arab. 



paffage 



the Cotweijion of a Sinner. 281 

paffage was generally underftood, at the serm. 
time, and in the place (Judaea) where \^^^y^ 
the Epiftle of St. James was written. 
This furely is great authority ; but I aik 
no more deference for the Syriack tranf- 
lators, than has been fhewn them by the 
moft learned commentators on Scripture, 
only repeating an obfervation, which 
divines acknowledge to be true ; " that 
" very many obfcure places in the New 
" Teftament are, in this verlion, by the 
" Ikill of the tranflator, and the idiom 
" of the language, happily explained ; 
" and fo explained, as perhaps there was 
" no other way of coming at the true 
" meaning of the text*.'^ 

Having, I hope, by their aid, fettled 
fatisfa6lorily the meaning of our own, I 
fiiall now enter on the confideration of 
thofe errors, which we are, at this time, 
peculiarly called upon to counterafl;, as 
guardians of the piety and virtue of 

* See Jones's Canonical Authority of the New Tef- 
tament, p. 144. 



women, 



282 The Reward attendant on 

SERM. women, and zealous to reclaim fuch as 
have wandered from the ways of both. 
If we afpire at the rewards of corre6ling 
error, we muft inveftigate its caufes, and 
endeavour to check it in its origin. 

Before the confpiracy againft the 
Chriftian religion was plotted by the 
pretended friends, but treacherous ene- 
mies, to the happinefs of men ; various 
were the delufions, whereby the feducer 
of innocence, the poifoner of principles, 
and corrupter of virtue, accomplifhed the 
ruin of what moft juftly claims the love 
and the refpefl: of mankind : but when 
that confpiracy, (of which we might as 
well pretend to deny the efFefts, as to 
doubt the exiftence) iffued from the dark 
chambers of its fecret counfels, innume- 
rable fophifms, as monftrous in their 
forms as odious for their malignity, over- 
fpread the continent of Europe, and in- 
fmuated their venom into the very vitals 
of morality. It demands all the patient 
inveftigation, the cool judgment, the 
virtuous refolution, which have diftin- 

guiflied 



the Cofiverjion of a Sinner ^ 

guiflied our country; it requires more, 
the continuance of that gracious pro- 
teftion, that guardian fuperintendence, 
that providential fupport, which we muft 
ever gratefully acknowledge, to enable us 
to throw off that taint, by which even 
our religious, moral, and political opinions 
have been too dreadfully vitiated. The 
introdu6i:ion of a fyftem, (if that, which 
is neither harmonious nor felf-confiftent 
deferves the name) whofe contrivers pro- 
feffed to elevate their difciples above the 
vulgar rules of religious duty, was a new 
fource of delufive artifices, by which 
numbers have been betrayed. Application 
was made to the vanity and pride of 
human reafon ; the do6lrines of faith 
were mifreprefented as fuperftitious ; the 
bonds of fociety, the rules of duty, the 
very tender charities of life themfelves 
were degraded into the rank of preju- 
dices : and fo was every pure and pro- 
tefting principle, by which the unfufpeft- 
ing vi6lim might have been impowered 
to triumph over the wiles of the fe- 
' ducer. 



284 The Rezcard attendant on 

SERM. ducer. *A legion of infernal opinions 
v^.^ took poffeffion of every mind, that was 
empty through vanity, and garniftied with 
the decorations of its own pride. Of 
thefe opinions, not one has ifiued thence 
with a more miblurtiing countenance, than 
the impious contempt of marriage ; the 
degradation of it into an interefted, in- 
tolerable, yet diffoluble contract ; the 
profeffion of a certain indifferent apathy, 
which even boafts of its regard to felfilh 
gratification, unconcerned as to the fen- 
timents or as to the fufferings of others. 
With thefe was linked a general contempt 
of women, not indeed univerfal ; for thofe 
were exempt from it, who alone deferved 
it; thofe, who abandoned every virtue, 
every delicacy and real fenfibility of their 
fex, to proftitute their talents, as priefleffes 
of idohzed hcentioufnefs ; to dilleminate 
doftrines, which, wherever they prevail, 
annihilate the peculiar excellencies and 
profane the purity of the female cha- 
racter ; and, notwithltanding their affefied 

♦ Matt. xii. 44.- 



pretenfions 



the Converjion of a Sinner', 285 

preteniioiis to fenfibility, to exhibit, in seem. 
their own conduct, examples of ferocity, ^^^i^ 
from which the hardeft man would turn 
away with difguft. From fuch writers as 
thefe, hath alfo been derived a contempt 
of that public opinion, which yet holds, 
thank God, in merited abhorrence, the 
treacherous adulterer, ftigmatized by the 
offended laws, or the cruel feducer, ex- 
pofed, with all his abjeft arts and infi- 
dious pretences. By fuch writers that is 
mifreprefented as public opinion, which is 
uttered in extenuation of every fenfual 
vice, by the high ranked profligate, or 
the prefuming arbiter of fafhion. Need 
I add, that religion, the fource of all 
happinefs, in this, as well as in a better 
world, has been difavow^ed by thefe phi- 
lofophifts as a rule of aftion ; and no 
rule adopted in its place, except fuch a 
one, as every man, however weak his 
judgment might be, however mean his 
attainments, could reconcile with the wild 
notions of liberty flu6luating in his vain 
and unftable mind ? 



From 



The 'Reward attendant on 

From the corrupt ftores of this mere*' 
tricious literature, hath the modern fe* 
ducer extrafted a variety of deceit, to 
enfnare the unfufpe£ting mind. His flat- 
tering appUcation to the underftanding 
was too often made, with fatal fuccefs. 
Its elevation, its dignity, its fuperiority 
to common minds was extolled, its entire 
emancipation from fuperftitious prejudices; 
the vindication of its indefeafible rights ; 
its claim to prefent happinefs apparently 
excited the folicitude of the pretended 
friend ; when no real motive aftuated his 
conduft, but his own gratification, while 
the delufion fhould continue, which muft 
terminate in the abje6t rnifery of abafe- 
ment and the bitter pains of remorfe. 
And let it not be fuppofed, that this 
deftruftive fophiftry operated but partially, 
on perfons of a certain degree of edu- 
cation. Falfe notions in morality, as well 
as falfe notions in politics, detached from 
tha monftrous mafs of peftilent dofl:rines, 
have defcended, even to the very loweft 
of the people ; and have alike been quoted 
as axioms, whenever deceit was to be 

prafitifed 



the Converfion of a Sinner, 

pra6lifed upon them, to render them fub- s 
fervient, either to the Ubertinifm or to 
the ambition of their deluders. 

It needed not this fyftematical perver* 
fion of the name and principles of philo* 
fophy, to augment the dangers of inex- 
perienced and unfufpe6ling youth, too 
violently aflailed by the evil inclinations 
of our fallen nature, too powerfully foli- 
cited by temptations, innumerable and 
various, as the difpofitions and circum- 
ftances of thofe they approach : but there 
is much reafon to fear, that too many, 
who are virtuous themfelves, jealous of 
their own charafter, and attentive to 
virtue and charafter in others, have yet, 
by their general condufit, contributed in- 
advertently, to increafe the dangers of 
both. Thefe errors it is my duty to 
fpecify; that thofe, who are fmcerely 
interefted in the honour and happinefs of 
their own fex, may avoid fuch errors i^ 
future. 



And 



288 



The Retmrd attendant on 



SER,M. And of thefe, none is more prominent, 
than a preference of the ornamental to 
the effential branches of female education. 
This irrational decifion may be obferved, 
in every rank, where education can be 
afforded ; and of courfe, the young per* 
fon, fo educated, muft very early per- 
ceive, that amufement, not utility, is the 
obje£l of her inftru6lions. Religious 
duties, domeftic virtues, and the ferious 
occupations of domeftic life, fmk conti- 
nually lower in her eftimation ; while 
qualifications are attained, which are of 
little value, when youth and beauty have 
pafled away, like a fliadow, and all others 
have been negle6led, which would have 
rendered a whole life honourable, and the 
tranfition, from thence to eternity, de- 
Arable. But, will the chriftian matron, 
who now hears and confiders this, prefer, 
for her daughter, attraflions fafcinating 
to men, before the graces of mind 
pleafmg in the fight of God? Will flie 
prefer, for her, the meteor glare of the 
prefent, to the glories of an eternal day ? 
Will file be inftrumental in precluding 

her 



the Converjion of a Sinner. 289 

her from thefe, by turning her mind to 
vanity, cheri(hing her pride and paflions, ^^^^r^ 
and enervating every power, by which 
they ought to be fubdued ? Surely not. 
She will, therefore, w^atch, with a jealous 
eye, over whatever may approach her in 
the way of inftruftion, or amufement : 
Ihe will receive into her houfe, none of 
thofe baneful publications, which are pro- 
feffedly compofed to fupport the falfe 
principles of modern fophiftry; and will 
accurately examine and rejeft others, of 
which the oftenfible objeft is inftruftion 
in various fciences ; but into which have 
been introduced, in a manner not lefs ma- 
lignant than artful, opinions injurious to 
revealed religion, and injurious to our 
civil and religious eftablilhments, by the 
indefatigable enemies of them all. 

The Chriftian matron will not only 
keep a ftriCt guard upon her own con- 
verfatipn, but over any that is held, be- 
fore thofe, in whofe purity and fafety ftie 
is moft dearly interefted. The repetition 
of fcandal; the recital of hbertine infi- 
U delities. 



The Reward attendant on 

delities, at which the world too often 
fmiles, though juftice frowns, infenfibly 
reprefles, at length deftrojs, the chafte 
fenfe of propriety natural to the female 
mind, if the prudent and pious guar- 
dian does not mark, with .appropriate 
difpleafure, her difapprobation of fuch 
fubjefls, and her abhorrence of profli- 
gacy, whatever may be the rank of the 
offenders. How culpable then is the 
imprudence, and irrational is the conduft 
of every mother, who, in the prefence of 
her daughter, fliews the fame attention 
to men, of this dangerous fort, as their 
rank could have claimed, had their con- 
du6l been correct and refpeftable ! 

The perfons, who thus pay an abje6l 
obedience to the tyranny of fafhion, fliew 
little or no regard to the virtues, or the 
attainments, of fuch of their own fex, 
as are their inferiors in rank, and at leaft 
their equals in merit. Dreadful indeed 
is the fituation of the female dependent, 
whofe abilities excite envy, in the very 
perfons, to whofe advantage they are ex- 
erted. 



the Comerfion of a Sinner, 291 

erted. It has long been a juft caufe of seem. 
general complaint, that the honourable ^^^-^^ 
occupations are fo few, in which women, 
without fortunes, or who have been de- 
prived of them by the unexpefled ruin of 
their families, can fupport themfelves in 
the rank, to w^hich they were born. But, 
even in thofe few, do they always expe- 
rience that tendernefs, that regard, that 
proteftiofi, that refpeft, (let not pride be 
offended) that refpe6l, which their good 
qualities and their ufefulnefs claim ? When 
they do not ; when, from the very quar- 
ter, from whence they might juftly expeft 
them, they receive only mortifications ; 
how often hath it happened, that fome - 
unprincipled fon, or fome unprincipled 
hufband, pretending to idolize the quali- 
fications fo undervalued, and the perfon 
fo delpifed, have triumphed over virtue, 
wearied out by oppreffion ! I believe, if 
the melancholy relations, ftated in this 
houfe, could, with any propriety, be re- 
vealed, fuch inftances would not be rare. 



u 2 Another 



The Reward attendant on 

Another caufe of female ruin, which I 
fliould think unworthy to claim your at- 
tention, but on account of its extenfive 
and deftruflive efFe6ls ; and becaufe wo- 
men of ft rift principles can, if they will, 
counterafl its influence ; is the little at- 
tention given to the propriety of external 
decoration. It is not ealy to fuppofe, 
that purity of mind prevails, where inde- 
cency, or even impropriety, in apparel is 
adopted and encouraged. It feems rather 
inconfiftent for a mother, whofe firft duty 
it undoubtedly is, to preferve, in her 
daughters mind, the amiable timidity of 
chaftity, and the delicate referve of mo- 
defty, to permit her to appear in a man- 
ner, which conveys an idea of fomething 
more than boldnefs. On the extenfive 
prevalence of fuch examples I need not 
infift; nor on the folly, the vanity, the 
extravagant expences, which devolve, with 
prevalent modes of habiliment, to the 
very loweft ranks. 

But all tbefe give advantages to the 
treacherous feducer. For him is the, as 

yet 



the Converjion of a Sinner. ^9^ 
yet innocent, viftim too often decorated; serm, 

^ . . . . . XVII. 

while trifles, inftead of found opinions, ^-^^ 
engrofs her underflanding ; and trifles, 
imprudently accumulated in perfonal or- 
nament, betray her into difficulties and 
diftreffes, which licentious vice, impatient 
for its prey, watches its opportunity to re- 
move. 

With this fatal attention to trifles, is 
always connefted a defire, and, among 
the opulent, a habit, of continual diffi- 
pation and amufement. The great bufi- 
nefs of life is neglefted for thefe, and the 
great obje6l of it as much forgotten, as 
if our manners were fubmitted to the 
do6irines of Epicurus, inftead of being 
regulated by the precepts, reftrained by 
the prohibitions, or fanftioned by the pro- 
mifes of the Gofpel. Nor is this confined 
to the fuperior ranks. Is it not notorious 
that the provifion which fliould be made 
for old age, or for pofterity, from the 
earnings of indufliry, is continually diffi- 
pated in a giddy round of pleafures ? But 
will any parent, who has maternal affec- 
tions. 



The Reward attendant on 

tionsj endure the thought of her child 
being betrayed, in the midft of thefe 
enervating, thefe intoxicating delufions^ 
into ruin ? Can Ihe anfwer it to herfelf 
to confpire with the world againft her 
own child, by encouraging her Co prefer 
fleeting pleafures to permanent happinefs ? 
Can {he behold, without horror, the dan-^ 
ger of her being cut off from fociety, or 
even from life, in the midft of fuch a 
heedlefs career ? If (he cannot do this, 
let her, as fire regards the virtue of her 
child, preferve her from the dangers of 
diffipation, by precept, by warning ; but 
efpecially, by her own domeftic example. 

On a retrofpe£t of the confiderations I 
have now fubmitted to you, (and to them 
many others might have been added) it 
wjll appear how few have not been (inad- 
vertently, I hope) guilty of affifting the 
unprincipled and unfeeling feducer, in 
the accompli(hment of his execrable de- 
fjgns : but it muft not be concluded, from 
the multitude and magnitude of tempta* 
tions, by thefe women, who have taken 

refuge 



the Converjion of a Sinner. 

refuge in this retreat of penitence, that 
they have not much to deplore, on their 
own part, on account of the error of their 
way. Some, perhaps, of thofe who hear 
me, may have neglefted the advantages 
of an excellent education, given them by 
the wifeft and tendered parents ; too 
many, I fear, may have wilfully expofed 
themfelves to temptations ; moft muft 
have unhappily forgotten the affertion of 
St. Paul, that " God is faithful, who 
" will not fuffer us to be tempted above 
" that we are able, but will, with the 
" temptation, alfo make a way to efcape, 
" that we may be able to bear it all 
muft look back, wdth deteftation and 
horror, on the dreadful way, in which 
they were haftening on to eternal de- 
ftru6iion. Let, however, no fincere pe- 
nitent defpond. The very exiftence of 
this houfe, the comforts and fpiritual re- 
lief {he receives here, ought to prove, 
even to the moft culpable, that flie is not^ 
however unworthy, forgotten of God : 
but let it be remembered, that to whom 
much is given, of that perfon much fhall 

be 



The Reward attendant on 

be required. Mercy hath extended the 
faving hand ; grace hath vouchfafed to 
interpofe, where juftice might have finally 
condemned : let each, therefore, earneftlr 
endeavour to work out her own falvation, 
with fear and trembling, as ftie hopes for 
pardon and peace, and dreads the mifery 
of final rejeftion and exclufion from the 
prefence of God. 

To the reft of this audience, let me 
earneftly recommend the opportunity now 
granted them, by the divine favour, of 
hiding a multitude of fins. Let each re- 
prefent to himfelf one of thefe penitents, 
at the dreadful termination of a finful 
life, ftruggling with intolerable torments 
of body and unutterable anguifti of fpi- 
rit ; overwhelmed with remorfe and del- 
pair ; not prefuming to exprefs any thing 
like a prayer, unlefs it were imprecations 
on her feducer ! What would not every 
one, at fuch a fcene as this, (and fuch 
are too frequent !) be willing to facrifice, 
to fave the guilty foul from death, both 
temporal and eternal I But then, all aid 

would 



the Converjion of a Sinner, 

would come too late. The harraffed mind 
and tortured body would prevent the ap- 
proach of penitence ; the tear of pity- 
would flow wdthout effeft, and all the 
efforts of charity would be exerted in 
vain ! Endeavour, therefore, to prevent 
that mifery, which you could not then 
relieve ; contribute to the converfion of 
finners from the error of their way, if 
ye would wifh, from an humble but juft 
convi6lion of your ow^n offences in the 
fight of God, to hide a multitude of 
fins ; unite your exertions, with thofe of 
the augufl patroness and pious guardians 
of this charity, to reitore the fincere and 
grateful penitent to her place in fociety, 
to her afflifted friends, to peace of mind, 
to the humble hope of pardon, and to 
the favour of a merciful Saviour : and 
may every one of you (w^hen, with thofe 
who have been wife teachers of repent* 
ance to them, and have turned many to 
righteoufnefs, you fhall arife from the 
duft) fhine as the brightnefs of the fir- 
mament, and as the itars, for ever and 
ever. Amen. Amen. 



PINIS. 



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